Strategic seaweed farming to support protected seabirds impacted by offshore windfarms

Abstract

Offshore wind farms generate electricity at relatively low cost and are regarded as a major contributor to net zero targets, supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13. However, some seabird species are at risk of colliding with turbine blades or being displaced by offshore wind farms. The European Union and the UK have legal requirements for wind farm developers to implement compensation measures if their developments are likely to have an adverse impact on the integrity of seabird populations in Special Protection Areas. Compensation measures that have been established have carbon costs and are applicable only to a restricted group of species, reducing the overall benefits. Here we make a novel suggestion that placement of seaweed farms close to selected seabird colonies could act as compensation for mortality associated with offshore wind farms. Many seabirds construct nests from seaweed that they collect at sea. These birds may also use plastic waste in nest construction. Plastic can kill seabirds by entanglement. Increasing availability of seaweed could reduce this mortality by reducing use of plastic in nest construction. This novel approach has multiple advantages over other forms of compensation. In particular it could benefit northern gannets Morus bassanus, a species considered especially at risk from impacts of offshore wind farms but not addressed by existing compensation measures. Seaweed farming as a compensation measure could also contribute to carbon sequestration and provide other environmental benefits as well as promoting the growth of an industry not yet well established in European seas.