Short-term ecological effects of an offshore wind farm in the Dutch coastal zone; a compilation

Bibliographic Data

ID15549232
AuthorsH J Lindeboom (corresponding author), H J Kouwenhoven (Tata Steel (Netherlands)), M J N Bergman (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research), S Bouma (Bureau Waardenburg (Netherlands)), Sophie Brasseur (0000-0002-9245-6990), R Daan (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research), Ruben Fijn (0000-0002-6233-2954, Bureau Waardenburg (Netherlands)), R C Fijn, D de Haan, S Dirksen (Bureau Waardenburg (Netherlands)), R van Hal (0000-0001-8250-5165), R Hille Ris Lambers, R Ter Hofstede (0000-0003-0958-5669), Karen L Krijgsveld (0000-0003-0230-0368, Bureau Waardenburg (Netherlands)), Marc Léopold (0000-0003-0413-6899), Meike Scheidat (0000-0001-9702-6490)
Year2011
Volume6
Issue3
Pages035101-035101
Publication date2011-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Research Letters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326
PublisherIOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1088/1748-9326/6/3/035101
OpenAlexW2110386812
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited15

The number of offshore wind farms is increasing rapidly, leading to questions about the environmental impact of such farms. In the Netherlands, an extensive monitoring programme is being executed at the first offshore wind farm (Offshore Windfarm Egmond aan Zee, OWEZ). This letter compiles the short-term (two years) results on a large number of faunal groups obtained so far. Impacts were expected from the new hard substratum, the moving rotor blades, possible underwater noise and the exclusion of fisheries. The results indicate no short-term effects on the benthos in the sandy area between the generators, while the new hard substratum of the monopiles and the scouring protection led to the establishment of new species and new fauna communities. Bivalve recruitment was not impacted by the OWEZ wind farm. Species composition of recruits in OWEZ and the surrounding reference areas is correlated with mud content of the sediment and water depth irrespective the presence of OWEZ. Recruit abundances in OWEZ were correlated with mud content, most likely to be attributed not to the presence of the farm but to the absence of fisheries. The fish community was highly dynamic both in time and space. So far, only minor effects upon fish assemblages especially near the monopiles have been observed. Some fish species, such as cod, seem to find shelter inside the farm. More porpoise clicks were recorded inside the farm than in the reference areas outside the farm. Several bird species seem to avoid the park while others are indifferent or are even attracted. The effects of the wind farm on a highly variable ecosystem are described. Overall, the OWEZ wind farm acts as a new type of habitat with a higher biodiversity of benthic organisms, a possibly increased use of the area by the benthos, fish, marine mammals and some bird species and a decreased use by several other bird species

Benthic zone · Benthos · Biology · Fauna · Fishery · Harbour · Offshore wind power · Porpoise · Submarine pipeline · Wind power · Environmental Science · Fish Ecology and Management Studies · Marine and fisheries research · Marine Biology and Ecology Research · Ecology · Geology · Oceanography

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