Quantifying the ecological implications of offshore wind farms using an ecosystem food web modelling approach

The expansion of offshore renewable energy calls for marine spatial planning strategies that accommodate both human needs and ecological integrity, yet the pace of development risks surpassing ecological understanding. 

Samuel Morsbach's upcoming thesis introduces a newly developed spatial ecosystem model to assess the cumulative ecological impacts of offshore wind farms (OWFs). 

Focusing on the proposed OWF Poseidon Nord off the coast of Bohuslän, the model is used to examine long-term ecosystem responses to a comprehensive suite of wind farm-related pressures. 

Specifically, the work quantifies i) changes in biomass composition across the food web, ii) consequent shifts in food web structure across spatial scales, and iii) explores the ecological implications of multi-use scenarios, here referring to synergies between offshore wind development and different forms of offshore aquaculture.

Overall, we aim to contribute to a more ecosystem-based approach to offshore wind planning by highlighting the importance of cumulative pressures and food web interdependencies.