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Article

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

by
Michalis Menicou
1,*,
Marios Charalambides
2,
George Triantaphyllidis
3,
Stephanos Charalambous
4,
Ioannis Kyriakides
5,6,
Rana Abu Alhaija
7 and
Olympia Nisiforou
8
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Frederick University, Nicosia 1036, Cyprus
2
Department of Business Administration, Center of Sciences, Frederick University, Nicosia 1303, Cyprus
3
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 46.7 km Athens-Sounio Avenue, P.O. Box 712, GR 19013 Anavyssos, Attica, Greece
4
T. C. Geomatic Technologies Ltd., Nicosia 1095, Cyprus
5
University of Nicosia Research Foundation, Nicosia 1700, Cyprus
6
Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, CMMI House, Vasileos Pavlou Square, P.O. Box 40930, Larnaca 6023, Cyprus
7
Cyprus Subsea and Services Ltd., 34A Paragogikotitas St., Lakatamia, Nicosia 2326, Cyprus
8
Department of Shipping, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Aquac. J. 2026, 6(3), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/aquacj6030028
Submission received: 3 June 2026 / Revised: 10 July 2026 / Accepted: 14 July 2026 / Published: 16 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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Abstract

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.
Keywords: marine spatial planning (MSP); Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Offshore/Open Sea Aquaculture; Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA); carrying capacity; offshore site selection; Mediterranean aquaculture; Cyprus marine spatial planning (MSP); Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Offshore/Open Sea Aquaculture; Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZA); carrying capacity; offshore site selection; Mediterranean aquaculture; Cyprus

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MDPI and ACS Style

Menicou, M.; Charalambides, M.; Triantaphyllidis, G.; Charalambous, S.; Kyriakides, I.; Alhaija, R.A.; Nisiforou, O. A GIS-Based Marine Spatial Planning Framework for Offshore Aquaculture Development in Cyprus: A Transferable Roadmap for the Mediterranean. Aquac. J. 2026, 6, 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/aquacj6030028

AMA Style

Menicou M, Charalambides M, Triantaphyllidis G, Charalambous S, Kyriakides I, Alhaija RA, Nisiforou O. A GIS-Based Marine Spatial Planning Framework for Offshore Aquaculture Development in Cyprus: A Transferable Roadmap for the Mediterranean. Aquaculture Journal. 2026; 6(3):28. https://doi.org/10.3390/aquacj6030028

Chicago/Turabian Style

Menicou, Michalis, Marios Charalambides, George Triantaphyllidis, Stephanos Charalambous, Ioannis Kyriakides, Rana Abu Alhaija, and Olympia Nisiforou. 2026. "A GIS-Based Marine Spatial Planning Framework for Offshore Aquaculture Development in Cyprus: A Transferable Roadmap for the Mediterranean" Aquaculture Journal 6, no. 3: 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/aquacj6030028

APA Style

Menicou, M., Charalambides, M., Triantaphyllidis, G., Charalambous, S., Kyriakides, I., Alhaija, R. A., & Nisiforou, O. (2026). A GIS-Based Marine Spatial Planning Framework for Offshore Aquaculture Development in Cyprus: A Transferable Roadmap for the Mediterranean. Aquaculture Journal, 6(3), 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/aquacj6030028

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