Integrating Wind Turbines and Fish Farms: An Evaluation of Potential Risks to Marine and Coastal Bird Species

Elizabeth Masden,Steven Benjamins,Maurizio Collu

doi:10.3390/jmse8060414

Abstract

Expansion of marine aquaculture into more remote areas will likely accelerate over the next decade. Integrating Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) generation technologies (e.g., wind turbines) into remote, off-grid aquaculture sites will reduce reliance on fossil fuels by allowing localised low-carbon power generation, but may also result in novel environmental pressures. In this study, we undertook a thought experiment to assess the potential for increased collision risks to local marine and coastal bird species of integrating small wind turbines (4 units; combined capacity of 200 MWh) into a generalised marine fish farm in western Scotland (UK). Potential risks to bird species were assessed using a bespoke Sensitivity Index (SI) based on 12 factors, including population size, adult survival rate, UK conservation status, flight manoeuvrability, nocturnal flight activity, habitat preference, sensitivity to wind farms, attraction to fish farms for feeding and/or resting, and attraction to other marine anthropogenic structures/activities. SI scores varied substantially between species, but large gulls (Larus sp.) and European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) were expected to be at the greatest potential risk. The general lack of information on interactions between birds and fish farms represented a significant knowledge gap, and greater focus on these interactions is needed to improve future risk assessments.

Highlights

Significant growth of the global marine finfish aquaculture industry, as witnessed over the last 20 years in the face of continuing pressure on wild fish stocks, is expected to continue [1]
The high Sensitivity Index (SI) values obtained for these species were mainly driven by high conservation and interaction factors, capturing both the significance of these species’ Scottish populations at a European level and their confirmed propensity to seek out fish farms and other floating infrastructure for feeding and resting
The assessment method proved capable of selecting those species intuitively deemed to be at greatest risk due to their presence at existing fish farms, apparent lack of avoidance of wind turbines, widespread use of artificial structures for resting, and attraction to fishery discards and other anthropogenic food sources

Summary

Introduction

Significant growth of the global marine finfish aquaculture industry, as witnessed over the last 20 years in the face of continuing pressure on wild fish stocks, is expected to continue [1]. This expansion will likely be achieved at least partially by the sector moving into more remote, exposed coastal waters. Fish farms, marker buoys, and similar floating structures may allow individual birds to feed for longer, in waters that would otherwise be less accessible to them The consequences of this attraction in terms of individual fitness, translated through changes in foraging patterns, energy intake, and travel times to breeding colonies, are as yet poorly understood. Integrating wind turbines and fish farms may increase overall risks to attracted birds, over and above those already posed by existing farm practices to reduce predation including entanglement in antipredator netting, shooting, and lethal poisoning [12,13,14]

Methods

Results

Conclusion