There is a growing body of evidence on the effects on the marine environment of offshore oil, gas, and wind energy infrastructure, as well as shipwrecks, collectively known as marine artificial structures (MAS). Led by PML’s Professor Nicola Beaumont, the Value of Marine Artificial Structures (ValMAS) project aims to support a just, nature-positive, and economically efficient transition to low-carbon offshore infrastructure. This ambitious four-year programme will generate vital new evidence on how MAS impact the ocean environment, economy, and society.
ValMAS aims to deliver evidence of the interplay between the ecological, economic and social values of MAS, to build a better understanding of their environmental value across sectors in the North Sea. Evidence generated will inform decision making on the best outcomes for the environment when it comes to decommissioning.
Professor Anne-Michelle Slater is part of the Aberdeen team making up this Transdisciplinary project. Governance is key to the creating a content for the wider research and in particular to foster a deep understanding of the dynamic nature of the legal and policy landscapes for marine artificial structures deployment and decommissioning. Development of a framework for natural capital values will also include a clear link between MAS governance and future development and decisions. Her contribution to the project will facilitate the development of a decision support tool for future uses and decommissioning of MAS.
The project is co-funded by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the industry-sponsored INSITE Programme.