The main focus by Dan Wilhelmsson, was to understand how offshore wind turbine inflicted on the natural habitats for plants, fish and other living mammals in the sea. Intriguingly, wind energy appears according to Wilhelmsson, to protect the dwelling of fish by providing an artificial reef. It was found that the density of fish nearby wind turbine was much higher than in vicinities away from wind turbines. The seabed where Wind Turbines were erected was nevertheless very rich in algae and boulders. This made it an ideal area for blue mussels.
Moreover wave power architecture does also have a similar constitution. They do also attract fish and crabs. However, the buoys used for the wave power are accommodated by blue mussels which usually fall down and become food for other animals in the seabed. It was also seen that the volume of lobsters rose drastically, if holes were created in the foundation. It also encouraged crabs to lodge it as their natural habitat.
There is still some risk, as a high concentration of certain species can have controversial impact on other species. The quantity of predatory animals can outnumber preys such as starfish, crustaceans and sea-pens. This can in extreme cases lead to the decimation of an entire species at particular vicinities.source:http://www.renewablepowernews.com/archives/1001
“Much of the marine vegetation along Finnmark [in the very north of Norway] has already gone. Studies show that as much as 90% [of the vegetation] has disappeared. Sea urchins and the king, or Kamchatka, crab, which was transferred there in the 1970s from the Pacific Ocean, are both to blame. But so is human activity at sea and on land.”
The introduction of Kamchatka crab from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast by Russia about 30 years ago has been disastrous as far as the natural habitat is concerned. This crab, which the Norwegians now call king crab, has thrived in the Barents Sea. It is moving down the coast of Norway from Finnmark, destroying the vegetation as it goes, and has already been observed as far south as Lofoten.Reef Systems has spent years developing the new reef concept, which has now been tested in various environments.
“The idea is simple: just place some artificial reefs on the seabed and let nature take its course. After just a few months, vegetation will appear on the reefs,” Mr Meisingset says.However, the clue is to maximise the surface or growth area, i.e. the surface of the reef, in as little volume as possible. “You need surface area so that the algae and seaweed can settle on it and grow. The greater the surface area, the more vegetation you will get. By using pipes, you get a maximum surface area (M2) in a minimum volume area (M3).”
"We also hope that these reefs can create fishing grounds for traditional fishermen who utilise very simple and traditional, fishing gear,” Mr Meisingset says. “That is exciting.”
Recently the idea of creating a Marine Vegetation Fund along the lines of the Rain Forest Fund, which is claiming to save the rain forest particularly in Brazil, was launched in Norway. Creating these artificial reefs is a long-term activity and it is difficult to link investment in such reefs to a specific economic activity. Therefore, public financing of these projects seems to be the solution, and the Rain Forest Fund model shows some promise; last year it managed to attract no less than NOK6 billion ($945 million) in funds from the Norwegian government.“We have to think big in this,” says Mr Meisingset. “The ocean is so big, and the ocean means a lot to coastal nations like Norway. The ocean has given us food and a number of activities, and it is time we started cultivating it, giving something back to the ocean."
source:http://www.worldfishing.net/comment-and-analysis101/analysis/artificial-reefs-can-save-the-worlds-oceans
The main focus by Dan Wilhelmsson, was to understand how offshore wind turbine inflicted on the natural habitats for plants, fish and other living mammals in the sea. Intriguingly, wind energy appears according to Wilhelmsson, to protect the dwelling of fish by providing an artificial reef. It was found that the density of fish nearby wind turbine was much higher than in vicinities away from wind turbines. The seabed where Wind Turbines were erected was nevertheless very rich in algae and boulders. This made it an ideal area for blue mussels.
