Algae related regulation & legislation

It is an old question: is algal cultivation an agricultural activity or an aquacultural activity. The answer to this question is important for several reasons:

1. spatial planning and permits: agriculture is frequently simpler, rules are simplified to reflect with the existing habits,
2. water permits: use of water for agriculture is governed by different rule than water use for aquaculture,
3. taxation: there are frequently simpler rules for farmers,
4. subsidies: there is an elaborate system of subsidies, mostly under EU jurisdiction with local implementation rules,
5. labelling: there are rules of origin and labelling requirements specific for each kind of activity,
6. jurisdiction: both at EU level and frequently at local levels the bodies responsible for each activity are different,
7. policy:

There are arguments to including algal cultivation under both umbrellas: