Aspects of the Blue Economy

Dr Joanne Porter, Dr Michael Bell, Agung Iswadi, Henny Gunawan

International Centre for Island Technology
Orkney Campus
Heriot-Watt University
What is the ‘Blue Economy’? According to the World Bank:
“sustainable use of ocean
resources for economic
growth, improved livelihoods,
and jobs while preserving the
health of ocean ecosystem”

UNEP (2013):
“improved human well-being
and social equity, while
significantly reducing
environmental risks and
ecological scarcities”
“low carbon, resource
efficiency and social inclusion”
The oceans matter – for food, economy,
ecology and global climate The Commonwealth website:
• Worldwide ocean economy valued
at US$1.5 trillion p.a.
• 85% global trade carried by sea
• 350 million jobs linked to fisheries
• 34% of crude oil production from
offshore fields by 2025
• Aquaculture is fastest growing
food sector
• Coral reefs are the most diverse
ecosystems
• Ocean is more than 95% of the
Earth’s living space
• ‘Blue carbon’ habitats –
mangroves, sea grasses and more
FAO (2020) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
The Blue Economy is not a new thing
• For centuries, coastal seas and
Innovative Co-location oceans have been a resource for
& transport, food, energy, minerals,
technology
coexistence enjoyment, …
• How can these different sea users
Planning & share marine space?
Energy • How do we manage the transition
regulation transition from traditional to emerging uses of
the sea?
• What part can the Blue economy
Finance Inclusion play in tackling global problems such
as climate change, poverty, …
• How do we protect marine
Ecosystem Blue environments, biodiversity and the
approaches carbon ecosystem services these provide?
From Scotland’s National Marine Plan:
Some snapshots of Orkney research related to
the Blue Economy

• Sustainable inshore fisheries – Dr Michael Bell

• Biofouling on marine structures – Dr Joanne Porter
• Evidence on biofouling and corrosion to support the development of
marine renewable energy in Indonesia – Agung Iswadi
• Financing renewable energy systems in Eastern Indonesia – Henny
Gunawan
Orkney fisheries
• Inshore
• Shellfish
• High socio-economic importance
for remote community
© Craig Taylor
 Science in support of sustainable fisheries:

ICIT working with stakeholders to

support sustainable development of
Orkney brown crab fishery
Kate Rydzkowski (Chair
of Orkney Sustainable
Fisheries and PhD
student) tagging crabs
at sea
Principle Component PI Performance Indicator
Actual
Year 1
BROWN CRAB Fishery Improvement Projects
1.1.1 Stock status 60-79
Pre-
Outcome 1.1.2 Reference points ≥80
Principle Component Performance Indicator Assessment
1.1.3 Stock rebuilding --- Year 0
1 1.2.1 Harvest Strategy <60
1.1.1 Stock status ≥80
1.2.2 Harvest control rules and tools <60 Outcome
Management 1.1.2 Stock rebuilding ---
1.2.3 Information and monitoring <60
1.2.1 Harvest Strategy 60-79
1.2.4 Assessment of stock status ≥80 1
1.2.2 Harvest control rules and tools 60-79
2.1.1 Outcome 60-79 Management
1.2.3 Information and monitoring ≥80
Retained species 2.1.2 Management ≥80
1.2.4 Assessment of stock status ≥80
2.1.3 Information ≥80
2.1.1 Outcome ≥80
2.2.1 Outcome ≥80
Primary species 2.1.2 Management ≥80
Bycatch species 2.2.2 Management ≥80
2.1.3 Information ≥80
2.2.3 Information ≥80
2.2.1 Outcome ≥80
≥80
2 ETP species
2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3
Outcome
Management£1M market value added for
Information
≥80
≥80
Secondary species 2.2.2 Management
2.2.3 Information
60-79
≥80
2.3.1 Outcome ≥80
Habitats
2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3
Outcome
ManagementOrkney crab fishery
Information
≥80
≥80
≥80
2 ETP species 2.3.2 Management
2.3.3 Information
≥80
≥80
≥80
Ecosystem
2.5.1
2.5.2
Outcome
Management
Stewart Crichton, General Manager≥80
Habitats
≥80
2.4.1 Outcome
2.4.2 Management ≥80
2.4.3 Information ≥80
2.5.3
3.1.1
of Orkney Fishermen’s Society
Information
Legal and customary framework
60-79
<60
2.5.1 Outcome ≥80
Ecosystem 2.5.2 Management ≥80
Governance and 3.1.2 Consultation, roles and responsibilities ≥80
2.5.3 Information ≥80
Policy 3.1.3 Long term objectives 60-79
3.1.1 Legal and customary framework ≥80
3.1.4 Incentives for sustainable fishing ≥80
Governance and Policy ≥80
3.1.2 Consultation, roles and responsibilities
3 3.2.1 Fishery specific objectives 60-79
3.1.3 Long term objectives ≥80
Fishery specific 3.2.2 Decision making processes 60-79
3 3.2.1 Fishery specific objectives 60-79
management 3.2.3 Compliance and enforcement ≥80
Fishery specific 3.2.2 Decision making processes ≥80
system 3.2.4 Research plan ≥80
management system 3.2.3 Compliance and enforcement ≥80
3.2.5 Management performance evaluation ≥80
3.2.4 Management performance evaluation ≥80
Total number of PIs less than 60 4
Total number of PIs equal to or greater than 80 23
Total number of PIs 60-79 6
Total number of PIs 60-79 4
Total number of PIs equal to or greater than 80 20
Total number of PIs less than 60 0
Overall BMT Index 0.77
Overall BMT Index 0.93
 Science in support of sustainable fisheries:

Risks in relation to
thresholds
• Given what we know of crab biology
MLS = 150 mm - Eggs per Recruit
and fishery processes, what are the 100
Approx F current
risks of fishing to spawning 80
Median % virgin EPR

95% CL % virgin EPR

% virgin EPR
potential? 60

• This kind of science is crucial to 40

20
underpin the emergence of regional 0

management 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

F at full selection
2.5 3 3.5 4

MLS = 150 mm - Risk of falling below threshold

MLS = 150 mm - Probability distribution of EPR
100
8
Approx F current
7 80
current fishing effort
6
2 x current fishing effort 35% virgin EPR
% frequency

% Risk
5 60
15% virgin EPR
4
40
3
2 20
1
0
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

% virgin EPR F at full selection

 Use of underwater video and machine
learning for monitoring of lobster stocks
In partnership with:
Seafood Innovation Fund project
Biofouling and the
offshore renewable
energy sector
Dr Joanne S Porter
 ©Orbital Marine Power ©EMEC

Offshore Renewable Energy

©Wello ©Hywind Scotland

Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters:

©SIMEC-Atlantis

Phase 1A: 4 x 1.5 MW tidal turbines

Phase 1B: 8 x 1.5 MW tidal turbines
Phase 1C: 57 x 1.5 MW tidal turbines (85.5 MW)
What is the problem?
• Increased roughness and weight thereby impacting drag and energy capture
• Accelerating corrosion of components, i.e. subsea connectors, etc.
• Removal of fouling/antifouling strategies are costly, requiring additional operational
‘down-time’
• Providing surfaces on artificial structures in the marine environment may create ‘stepping-
stone’ habitats for the spread of fouling communities (including non-native species)
Biofouling in tidal turbine cowling

Image: courtesy of Gareth Davies

Is this a new problem?
Yes, there are several issues unique to the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) sector:
• Novel components/materials used in the sector
• Devices are being placed in poorly understood
habitats
• Sensor accuracy is compromised leading to inaccurate
determination of device performance and resource
assessment

FADCP camera lens

… the hydrodynamic and mechanical consequences of biofouling organisms on moving structures

are of particular concern… as well as, mooring systems…
Fouling: mooring systems

©Orbital Marine Power

SeaGen

©Hywind Scotland

©Fusion Marine
 Guidance to better manage fouling…

• Lowered Levelized Cost of Electricity generated by ORE sector;

• Biofouling management plans/protocols;
• Biosecurity.
Data Collecting Opportunities:

Biofouling sampling – Waverider buoy - off Billia Croo

Clockwise from top left: map of survey locations

in Orkney; settlement panels - EMEC
infrastructure; waverider buoy survey; evidence
of gregarious settlement and coating preference;
test panels (Whitford Ltd.) - Stromness Harbour.
Biofouling at different depths and hydrodynamic conditions:
 Biofouling monitoring and testing system

• Monitoring of fouling organisms at different depths and

energy levels
• System allows testing of different materials and anti-fouling
coatings
• Allows easy deployment and retrieval for regular access
• Physically and statistically robust
Schematic diagram of the BioFREE monitoring and
testing system. Quantification of drag forces and
buoyancy on each component was necessary to calculate
position of the BioFREE frame relative to the seabed.
(Schematic by E. DuTemple).
 16-17 October 2018 (deployed mid-July)
Fall of Warness: Billia Croo:
-High flow -High wave
-Moderate wave -Moderate flow

Ectopleura larynx Obelia dichotoma

Jassa marmorata Anomia ephippium
Celleporella hyalina Electra pilosa

Shapinsay: Scapa Flow:

-Moderate flow -Moderate wave
-Moderate wave -Low flow

Ectopleura larynx Spirobranchus triqueter

Ascidiella aspera Ascidiella aspera
Plumularia setacea Anomia ephippium
 Seasonality and Succession
Scapa Flow

October 2018 January 2019

 Fitted with new panels quarterly

BioFREE frames: Tabira Port, Nagasaki Prefecture

-High flow

Megabalanus rosa
Balanus trigonus
Bugulina flabellata

Image: Prof. Yusaku Kyozuka

 Modelling Buoy Response to Biofouling:

Want et al. 2017

• Analysis of heave data identified small changes to the overall spectral response
• Most of the changes were observed as a dampened high frequency response
• This high frequency response could be used as a tool to further compare biofouling influence,
and suggests a means of identifying when a buoy is fouled and by which organism
• More data needed…
 Findings:
• Proven success of BioFREE monitoring and testing system which can now be used to provide detailed
characterisation anywhere and at any chosen deployment depth;
• Fouling is highly specific to location and varies depending on substrate type;
• Fouling assemblages are highly predictable based on hydrodynamic conditions and deployment depth;
• Orientation of the substrate may be an important means to better understand how of hydrodynamic
conditions favoured certain key foulants.

Image: courtesy of EMEC ADCP – Fall of Warness (20 mths)

 Findings:
• Anti-fouling coatings may be most effective at preventing fouling in high current flow conditions BUT…
• Sensor functioning (critical in assessments of resource and device performance) may be compromised
by fouling, but may also serve to alert the ;
• Marked seasonality of fouling helps determine periods of greatest fouling risk from key organisms;
• Scheduling deployment and maintenance operations in a targeted manner may be an effective means
to minimise fouling impacts including potential movement of NNS.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Amphisbetia operculata
Anomia ephippium
Chirona hameri
Ciona intestinalis
Ectopleura larynx
Periods of settlement associated with major
Fucus spiralis
fouling species: months in red indicate the
Metridium dianthus highest recognised settlement season, orange
Mytilus edulis months are of intermediate concern, and
Saccharina latissima
green months are of least concern (updated
from Want et al., 2017)
Schizoporella japonica
Semibalanus balanoides
Non-native Species (NNS): Orkney

©Kate Willis

• Corella eumyota – Kirkwall Marina

• Schizoporella japonica – Hatston Pier
• Caprella mutica – Stromness Marina
• … and others
Biofouling Management Plans:

©Wello
©Wello
 Further Information:

https://tethys.pnnl.gov/events/biofree-biofouling-renewable-energy-environments
 For further information
contact points:
Dr Joanne S Porter:
j.s.porter@hw.ac.uk
Dr Andrew Want: a.want@hw.ac.uk
Dr Rob Harris: r.e.harris@hw.ac.uk
Dr Mike Bell: m.c.bell@hw.ac.uk
Acknowledgements:
 Henny Gunawan s Research Project

Research Area

DESIGNING PROJECT FINANCING

RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM IN EASTERN
INDONESIA: COMPATIBILITY STUDY Policies and Regulations
ADAPTING TO EUROPEAN AND OTHER related to renewable energy financial
REGIONS

Research Methodology
Renewable Energy Technologies
in Eastern Indonesia
-Qualitative Methods: Interview and FGDs
-Quantitative Methods: Econometric,
Financing Schemes
based on community energy
Economic Evaluation Analysis

Novel Design of Financing Schemes (draft):

1. To generate forward modelling by Monte
Carlo method to decide the optimal
Scope of Study with Project Aim and Objectives production energy cost.
Define Research Gaps for the project. 2. To create tier system based on RETs and
Define Research Questions for Thesis (6 RQs) capacity size as a tool to conduct feasibility
study using economic evaluation analysis eg
Research Introduction CMIA, MIM, etc.
3. To use community energy as project
governance and taking into account their
Research Final Design
benefits and features to strengthen the
financial schemes/structures.