Abstract
The expansion of offshore wind (OW) energy generation is an important part of efforts to tackle climate change. However, to be sustainable such development must also address the twin challenge of biodiversity loss. This requirement is now recognised in both UK (Environment Act, 2021) and European (EU Biodiversity Strategy) legislation, through concepts of biodiversity Net Gain (NG) and No Net Loss (NNL) respectively, reflecting aspirations to enhance or stem the loss of biodiversity.
Whilst it is not yet clear what the long-term consequences of OW energy production will be for seabed biodiversity, strategies to achieve NG or NNL are being developed. For example, the Netherlands is pursuing a policy of Nature Inclusive Design (NID), where steps are actively taken to promote biodiversity within development areas. This is supported by the Rich North Seas (RNS) initiative (https://www.derijkenoordzee.nl/en/our-approach) that seeks to develop solutions (e.g. introduction of artificial reef structures or habitat creation) which can then be adopted by OWF developers1 .
To help gauge the success of these biodiversity strategies (NG/NNL/NID), and to support decision making (i.e. where developments should take place), there is an urgent need to improve understanding of the biodiversity of the seabed, particularly at broad spatial scales which provide important context.
This North Sea Net Gain project was funded under the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme (OWEC) to seek to generate data beyond the confines of national boundaries to meet this aim. This innovative project involved an international collaboration between the UK (The Crown Estate, Cefas) and European partners (RNS, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)), allowing for inclusion of data from outside the UK EEZ, and development of biodiversity layers which cross transnational boundaries. The project has been supported by a project advisory group which included members from Natural England and The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), who provided valuable guidance throughout the project. The project considered benthic data from around the UK and across the North Sea in its scope, drawing in data from the waters of seven countries.
To date, there has been a reliance on physical based habitat maps which are often used as a proxy for biodiversity. With limited quantities of biological data, this is a logical approach. However, the data landscape is now very different and there are multiple online repositories, including the Crown Estate’s Marine Data Exchange (https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/), where seabed biological data can be obtained. Bringing these datasets together gives us, for the first time, an opportunity to map benthic biodiversity directly.
The OneBenthic (OB) initiative (https://sway.office.com/HM5VkWvBoZ86atYP?ref=Link) was set up to capitalise on the availability of seabed biological samples, and to allow for the adoption of big data approaches, providing new scientific insights and leading to improved sustainability. The current North Sea Net Gain project provides further development of the OB initiative, with a view to supporting the continued sustainable expansion of the OW industry by improving understanding of benthic biodiversity. This includes evolving existing OB digital infrastructure and carrying out an international data harvesting exercise to draw together standardised data which can then be harnessed in the creation of novel modelled biodiversity layers. The collaboration of international partners within the project has also supported enhanced flow of data between UK & European data repositories, widening the accessibility of open benthic data.