Narrative :

An R&D project supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants Portugal, in the frame of the blue growth program. Lead by HAEDES and in partnership with IHRH (Instituto de Hidráulica e Recursos Hídricos – Portugal) and the University of Stavanger (Norway).

AQUABREAK aims at providing an eco-friendly and cost-optimized multi-purpose Nature-Based Solution (NBS), combining offshore aquaculture activities and coastal protection. This is achieved through the implementation of seaweed farming longlines with a vertical dropper lines system, that will simultaneously promote wave energy dissipation to enhance coastal protection.

AQUABREAK assumes that the use of NBSs can effectively contribute to wave attenuation, thus reducing coastal erosion and overtopping of coastal areas with additional advantage of providing environmental benefits. The consideration of seaweed aquaculture farms, established on longline structures and placed on the nearshore area, enables a dynamic behaviour of the overall structure which allows them to cope with SLR and storm conditions. By using seaweed aquaculture farming, the AQUABREAK offshore system (AOS) will provide ecosystem services such as ecosystem regeneration, local blue economy stimulation and CO2 sequestration.

The project is divided in three main phases that include (i) physical modelling tests, (ii) numerical modelling and (iii) numerical case study applications to the Portuguese and Norwegian coasts.

Learn more about EEA grant Portugal