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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The second module of the online course on the use of geographic information system (GIS) in the establishment of allocated zones for aquaculture (AZA) was held online from 6 to 7 December 2021. It was organized as a follow-up to the first module of the online course, “spatial information and representation” held in 2020, and was attended by more than 50 participants. This two‑day course aimed to build on the foundations and concepts established during the first module and to provide an insight into the identification of parameters, suitability index and weighting factors for degree of compatibility estimation, including exclusion criteria, using a free-access software. During the course, aquaculture experts introduced concepts related to the identification of AZA and highlighted the importance of the adoption and implementation of AZA for the sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, namely in terms of determining the most suitable sites and managing conflicts between coastal users and uses. To complement the presentations given by the experts, participants attended four hands-on sessions covering the following topics: representation of basic data, use of geoprocessing tools, download of satellite data, assignment and categorisation of suitable ranges of parameters and weighting factors, overlay and multicriteria analysis and a final grid with compatible zones. To conclude the module, an interactive Q&A session was held between participants and experts.