Coordinateurs du projet
Context
By setting a target of 5.2 to 6.2 GW for fixed and floating offshore wind power by 2028 (Decree No. 2020-456 of April 21, 2020), the multi-year energy program (PPE) sets out France’s ambition for the development of marine renewable energies (MRE). To achieve this target, the provisional schedule even provides for annual calls for tenders of around 1,000 MW per year between 2020 and 2028. This ambition had already been stated in the National Strategy for the Sea and the Coastline (2017), which gave rise to the strategic coastal zone documents (DSF) to be finalized in 2021 and valid for a period of six years. The resulting “vocational maps” are therefore the fruit of a long multi-stakeholder process identifying preferred locations for MRE development. These documents now form the basis for wind energy projects, each of which is then subject to public debate organized under the aegis of the National Commission for Public Debate. Both during the development of the DSFs and the public debates, obstacles have emerged in terms of the acceptability of MRE, particularly with regard to land and landscape issues raised by residents living near the coast close to wind farms, but also with regard to commercial fishing.
While commercial fishing remains a factor in the socio-economic balance of many coastal areas, it also carries a strong historical, cultural, and identity-related significance. The development of MREs is taking place in an already complicated context due to internal factors (e.g., fisheries regulations) and external factors (e.g., marine protected areas, Brexit). However, there is a lack of available data to assess the effects of various spatial constraints on fishing activities, particularly for the vast majority of vessels under 12 m (representing just over three-quarters of the metropolitan fleet). Furthermore, the mobile and variable nature of fisheries makes them a complex subject that is highly sensitive to technical choices in data processing and representation.
That is why, since 2020, seven observatories run by fishermen’s representatives (regional and departmental fisheries committees) have been producing annual data on the spatial distribution of fishing activities on a declarative and voluntary basis, via the GIS VALPENA. The surveys cover an average of around 80% of the fleets, and by the end of 2020, more than 10,000 surveys had already been carried out. Indicators have also been developed to guide data processing, and 135 studies have been carried out by the Fisheries Committees using this data, around a third of which relate directly to MRE.
In the coming years, given the ambition reflected in the PPE and the challenges facing the fisheries sector, the need for this type of data will undoubtedly continue to grow.
Scientific breakthroughs and innovation
The Data-Map project led by the LETG laboratory
In order to secure and support the development of MREs that take into account the challenges facing the fishing industry, and thus overcome the reluctance of the fishing sector, it appears necessary to undertake fundamental work in four areas:
developing the capacity to process “fishing” data,
analyzing the methods used to map “fishing” data,
clarifying the issue of the accumulation of spatial restrictions imposed on fishing, and
enriching the mapping by taking qualitative variables into account.
Understanding the spatial dynamics of fisheries
There are many sources of data on fishing. From this eclectic range of data, two sources were selected to study the spatial dynamics of fishing: VALPENA data and VMS data.
Spatialized data on fishing activities VALPENA, a project to evaluate fishing practices in relation to new activities carried out by fishermen’s representatives, is produced annually on a declarative and voluntary basis. Satellite data comes from the VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) and is derived from a vessel monitoring system.
DATA-MAP therefore aims to combine survey data (VALPENA) and satellite data (VMS) in order to provide a detailed representation of fishing areas.
However, both data sources have limitations that need to be understood before combining them. For example, VMS data only takes into account vessels over 12 meters in length (except in certain specific cases), which only covers part of the French metropolitan fleet. On the other hand, VALPENA data, being survey data, may contain uncertainties. These two types of data can therefore complement each other in several ways, enabling us to obtain fishing maps that provide a more realistic picture of the dynamics of fishing.
Analyzing the methods of cartographic representation of “fishing” data
Before representing the combination of the two types of data, we will conduct a state-of-the-art review of methods for representing fisheries. This state-of-the-art review should inventory existing methods for representing fisheries.
Thus, a critical study of existing representation methods (mapping) and different types of data (GIS) will enable us to develop a methodology and a framework for reflection. Indeed, while methods for representing fisheries are currently limited, each mapping technique has a different objective, which determines the dataset and metrics used.
Using these critical observations, we will develop a representation method that we will test, with the aim of representing fisheries as accurately as possible, according to the objectives set.
Creation of scenarios
Taking into account the scale, the two types of data, and their temporality, the objective is to construct cartographic hypotheses representing the relationships between fishing and MRE. Based on the different life phases of MRE (construction, operation, and dismantling), the representation of scenarios will be adapted to show the specific effects of each MRE life phase and its relationship to fisheries.
Expected technical and economic impact
The results of the Data-Map project will help consolidate the “Avoid-Reduce-Compensate” (ERC) sequence, in particular by strengthening the analysis of socio-economic impacts.