COEXIST: Interaction in coastal waters

Europe’s coastal zones are of great socio-economic value, they are however also under pressure to balance competing activities and face potential conflict for space allocation. Stakeholder groups are diverse and represent diverse sectors, particularly fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, wind farm operation, and nature conservation in marine protected areas. Above all this is the requirement to preserve a valuable natural resource and meet environmental protection rules and regulations. This is the challenge the COEXIST project faces.

COEXIST is a broad, multidisciplinary project which will evaluate competing activities and interactions in European coastal areas. The ultimate goal of the COEXIST project is to provide a roadmap to better integration, sustainability and synergies across the diverse activities taking place in the European coastal zone.

A roadmap for integration of aquaculture and fisheries with other activities in the coastal zone will be the central output of the project.

 The ultimate project outcomes will be:

1. Characterisation of relevant European coastal marine ecosystems, their current utilisation and spatial management.
2. Evaluation of spatial management tools for combining coastal fisheries, aquaculture and other uses, both now and in the future.

• To contribute to the maintenance and development of coastal fisheries and aquaculture
• To contribute to the knowledge based economy
• To provide a framework to assist with the resolution of the existing and future conflicts related to interactions between aquaculture, fisheries and other sectors
• To contribute to the formulation, implementation and assessment of the current EU policies and legislation
• To improve the management tools based in ecosystem approach
• To contribute to the sustainable development at local and regional levels and to the growth of aquaculture and fisheries sectors
• To improve the relationship and communication among stakeholders, scientist and civil society
• To support new knowledge transfer across Europe