Short Science Summary: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

Marine Habitat

Potential Environmental Effects on Habitats from Marine Renewable Energy: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

Most marine renewable energy (MRE) devices must be attached to the seafloor in some way, either by gravity foundations, pilings, or anchors, and many will also have transmission cables on the seabed, and mooring lines, as well as the devices themselves in the water column. Physical changes in benthic and pelagic habitats have the potential to alter where species live and how common they are at a site, and they may lead to habitat loss, provide opportunities for non-native species to become established, alter ecological patterns, modify ecosystem functions and the services the ecosystem provides, and affect the behavior of many marine organisms.

This Short Science Summary was developed based on the OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World, specifically Chapter 6: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices.

The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
No Observed Effects of Subsea Renewable Energy Infrastructure on Benthic Environments Smyth, D., Kregting, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment
Characterizing seabed sediments at contrasting offshore renewable energy sites Amjadian, P., Neill, S., Barclay, V. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Site Selection of Combined Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Farms: A Systematic Review Hosseinzadeh, S., Etemad-Shahidi, A., Stewart, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Impact Assessment: Wave Swell Energy Test Site, Grassy Harbour, King Island, Tasmania Marine Solutions Report Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Environmental Impact Assessment
Insights from the management of offshore energy resources: Toward an ecosystem-services based management approach for deep-ocean industries Bravo, M., Brandt, M., van der Grient, J., Dahlgren, T., Esquete, P., Gollner, S., Jones, D., Levin, L., McClain, C., Narayanaswamy, B., Sutton, T., Victorero, L., Cordes, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Social & Economic Data
Report on the post monitoring of the sea ecosystem – seabed after deploying the WEC in the aquatory of Bar, Montenegro Joksimović, A. Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Physical Environment
Towards Holistic Characterization of the Near Seabed for Renewable Energy Installations in Shallow Marine Environments Clementi, M., Boiero, D., Leone, C., Masnaghetti, L. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Evidence for the effects of decommissioning man-made structures on marine ecosystems globally: a systematic map Lemasson, A., Somerfield, P., Schratzberger, M., McNeill, C., Nunes, J., Pascoe, C., Watson, S., Thompson, M., Couce, E., Knights, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Conceptualization of NEXUS elements in the marine environment (Marine NEXUS) Papadopoulou, M., Vlachou, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Chemicals, Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Recreation & Tourism
Clean Energy from the Ocean: Measuring the Environmental Footprint of Devices Rose, D., Gunn, C., Hemery, L. Magazine Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Implementation of the Spatial Environmental Assessment Toolkit McWilliams, S., Jones, C., Roberts, J., Pendleton, E. Presentation Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change, Noise
Detection of Habitat Shifts of Cetacean Species: A Comparison Between 2010 and 2017 Habitat Suitability Conditions in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Chavez-Rosales, S., Josephson, E., Palka, D., Garrison, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Displacement, Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Practical Approaches for Providing Empirical Data on Seabird Behavior and Prey Assemblages in Tidal Channels Fraser, S., Waggitt, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates
Environmental impact of renewable energy source based electrical power plants: Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, tidal, ocean, and osmotic Rahman, A., Farrok, O., Haque, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data
Tidal streams, fish, and seabirds: Understanding the linkages between mobile predators, prey, and hydrodynamics Couto, A., Williamson, B., Cornulier, T., Fernandes, P., Fraser, S., Chapman, J., Davies, I., Scott, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish
Experimental study of bed level changes in the vicinity of flap-type wave energy converters Taheri, O., Kolahdoozan, M., Faghihirad, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) in the Tropics: An Overview of MRE Potential in Oaxaca, Mexico Oman, J. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data
Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery to Characterise Pursuit-Diving Seabird Association With Tidal Stream Hydrodynamic Habitat Features Slingsby, J., Scott, B., Kregting, L., McIlvenny, J., Wilson, J., Yanez, M., Langlois, S., Williamson, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Project Summary of Outcomes and Results of Wave Energy in Southern Europe (WESE) Project Bald, J., Uyarra, M., Menchaca, I., Pouso, S., Uriarte, A., Garlsparsoro, I., de Santiago, I., Muxika, I., Simas, T., Vinagre, P., Machado, I., Apolonia, M., Cruz E., Chainho, P., Gonçalvez, J., Enciso, Y., Marina, D., Zubiate, L., Etxaniz, P., de Miguel, B., Madrid, E., Felis, I., Martinez, R., Chambel, J., Moitinho, L., Bartolomeu, S., Santos, H., Galvão, P., Basos, N., Moura, T., Nyman, M., Pech, M. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
ORJIP Ocean Energy Information Note: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) Report Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment
Triton Field Trials - Changes in Habitats, a Literature Review of Monitoring Technologies Hemery, L., Mackereth, K., Tugade, L. Report Marine Energy Habitat Change
Environmental Effects from Wave Power: Artificial Reefs and Incidental No-take Zones Bender, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Wave Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Triton Field Trials: Promoting Consistent Environmental Monitoring Methodologies for Marine Energy Sites Eaves, S., Staines, G., Harker-Klimes, G., Pinza, M., Geerlofs, S. Journal Article Marine Energy Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions
Use of Our Future Seas: Relevance of Spatial and Temporal Scale for Physical and Biological Indicators Trifonova, N., Scott, B., De Dominicis, M., Wolf, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
What’s in My Toolkit? A Review of Technologies for Assessing Changes in Habitats Caused by Marine Energy Development Hemery, L., Mackereth, K., Tugade, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Buenau, K., Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Garcia Medina, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Stressor-Specific Guidance Document: Habitat Change OES-Environmental Report Marine Energy Habitat Change
Biological Consequences of Marine Energy Development on Marine Animals Hemery, L., Copping, A., Overhus, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds
Cost Efficiency of Environmental DNA as Compared to Conventional Methods for Biodiversity Monitoring Purposes at Marine Energy Sites Fu, M., Hemery, L., Sather, N. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Information for Siting and Operation of Floating Tidal Turbines in U.S. Waters Copping, A., Garavelli, L., Overhus, D., Tugade, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Environmental Impacts of Tidal and Wave Energy Converters Hutchison, Z., Lieber, L., Miller, R., Williamson, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Automatic Segregation of Pelagic Habitats Plonus, R-M., Vogl, S., Floeter, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Are fish in danger? A review of environmental effects of marine renewable energy on fishes Copping, A., Hemery, L., Viehman, H., Seitz, A., Staines, G., Hasselman, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Fish
Environmental Impact Assessment: Nuyakuk River Small Scale Hydroelectric Project Squire, R., Owen, A., Ngo-Ly, J., Sanderson, T. Report Marine Energy, Riverine Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Recreation & Tourism, Visual Impacts
Retiring environmental risks of marine renewable energy devices: the “habitat change” case Hemery, L., Rose, D., Freeman, M., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement
Moving from scientific research to consenting guidance for MRE environmental risk Copping, A., Rose, D., Freeman, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Assessment of marine energy-biotopes for Cozumel Island's reefs: A resource for tourism and renewable ocean energy Callejas-Jiménez, M., Alcérreca-Huerta, J., Carrillo, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism
Marine Evidence packages ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer) Website Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Sustainable energy planning for remote islands and the waste legacy from renewable energy infrastructure deployment Kouloumpis, V., Yan, X. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data
Tidal stream use by black guillemots Cepphus grylle in relation to a marine renewable energy development Johnston, D., Furness, R., Robbins, A., Tyler, G., McIlvenny, J., Masden, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
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