Seawater samples collected by scientists from Wageningen University & Research near four wind farms in the Dutch North Sea showed signs of multiple shark and ray species: thornback rays, basking sharks, spotted rays, starry smooth-hounds, and blonde rays.
A contributing factor to the abundance of fauna at wind farms may be the local ban on trawling. These are in place because trawling would damage undersea cables connected to the wind farms. The ban has the added benefit of leaving sea floor ecosystems undisturbed and ripe for natural predation.
Trawling and other forms of seabed-disturbing fishing are prohibited within offshore wind farms, allowing benthic ecosystems to recover. Researchers believe that these more stable habitats could benefit vulnerable species such as elasmobranchs. “We must tread carefully,” Hermans cautions. “If we start allowing bottom trawling in these areas, we risk losing the very protection these zones may offer.”
The use of eDNA is a promising, noninvasive tool for marine ecology. “It’s like finding a fingerprint in the water,” Hermans explains. “Even if you don’t see the shark, the DNA tells you it’s been there.” The method is fast, cost-effective, and animal-friendly, opening up new possibilities for biodiversity monitoring in challenging marine environments.
The findings provide valuable insights for marine spatial planning and policy, particularly as the EU pushes forward with initiatives such as the Habitats Directive and the new Nature Restoration Law. The study explores how offshore energy infrastructure might be integrated with marine conservation strategies, offering potential win-wins for biodiversity and renewable energy.
I went to look up “eDNA” (extracellular DNA), but only found it after wading through quite a bit of “Edna”.
If the offshore wind industry moves to deeper water and floating wind turbines, they could lose that benefit – the anchor cables drag around as the wind pivots, with similar effects as for intensive bottom trawling.