Copyright : Laboratoire LEMAR- 2018
The main objective of the APPEAL project is to build a new approach combining the natural sciences and the human and social sciences, in order to measure the effects of floating offshore wind farms (FOWF) on the functioning of coastal socio-ecosystems and to propose decision support tools. This three-year project will be carried out in three phases: 1) the definition of the initial environmental, ecological and socio-economic (uses, perceptions and acceptability) status of future FOWF sites, 2) the modelling of possible changes in their trophic functioning, their role in biodiversity conservation, economic impacts on fishing fleets, and interactions with other uses, and 3) the development of a socio-ecosystem model to characterize and analyse interactions between all stakeholders and the environment, taking into account the legal framework. Two pilot FOWF development sites will be studied as a priority: Groix & Belle-Île (Atlantic) and Leucate (Mediterranean). The APPEAL project will contribute more broadly to the identification and measurement of the real ecological and socio-economic challenges posed by renewable marine energies projects.