A GIS-Based Marine Spatial Planning Framework for Offshore Aquaculture Development in Cyprus: A Transferable Roadmap for the Mediterranean

This study presents the development and application of an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework for identifying suitable offshore aquaculture development zones in Cyprus. The methodology, developed within the OS AQUA project, combines environmental exclusion analysis, weather and proximity assessment, stakeholder and policy evaluation, and carrying-capacity estimation within a unified spatial decision-support framework. A sequential three-phase analytical workflow was applied to progressively refine candidate offshore areas under environmental, operational, infrastructural, regulatory, and governance considerations. The analysis identified four candidate offshore aquaculture zones in Cyprus—Xylofagou West, Larnaka (Faros area), Governor’s Beach, and Aphrodite Hills/Avdimou—demonstrating comparatively favourable conditions for offshore aquaculture development. The results highlight the importance of integrating environmental compatibility, operational feasibility, accessibility, stakeholder acceptance, and sustainability considerations within offshore aquaculture planning processes. Carrying-capacity assessment further indicated substantial offshore production potential under precautionary operational assumptions. Beyond the Cyprus case study, the proposed GIS-MSP framework offers a transferable methodological roadmap for offshore aquaculture zoning, Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA) establishment, and sustainable marine spatial planning in the Mediterranean region.