Source: OLAMUR project
Introduction
This case study is conducted in the wind farm “Meerwind Süd/Ost” in the German North Sea within the
framework of the EU project OLAMUR (Offshore Low-trophic Aquaculture in Multi-Use scenario Realisation) and is one out of three pilot sites in this project.
The main aim for this study is to test low-trophic aquaculture with different invertebrate and seaweed species within a multi-use approach in the above-mentioned wind farm “Meerwind Süd/Ost” operated by the project partner WindMW. An important aspect of this pilot is the development and adaptation of aquaculture systems for offshore conditions.
Funding: Horizon 2020 European Union Funding for Research & Innovation (HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-04-01; Project ID: 101094065).
- Stakeholder engagement
The windfarm operator is the only other stakeholder in the wind farm. In addition to the project partners HEREON, and the mussel farmers (Wyk 8 Muschelfischereibetrieb GmbH, Nordfriesische Seemuschel GmbH (NFS)) collaborations with other research institutions (University Oldenburg; Thünen Institute) from Germany were established during this project.
Over the complete project time, the contact with the wind farm operator is very close concerning information (basic abiotic parameters) about the OWF, as well as the permission to enter the OWF for the research. Additionally, the wind farm operator offers transfer to and within the wind farm with crew transfer vessels, whenever possible and necessary. - Regulatory framework
For the OLAMUR case study site in the North Sea, the administrational and official permits to establish this research area, the paperwork and application has to be prepared, updated and sent to the BSH (Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency) annually. Each modification has to be communicated. The intended deployment of any new device or structure which is not yet included in the current permission has to be part of a new application to the BSH. Removal or loss of any system/device has to be communicated immediately. Apart from the BSH-agency, the proposal is also reviewed by the Federal Armed Forces and the Agency for Shipping
and Waterways (WSA).
Lessons learnt
- Exposed and offshore areas require aquaculture systems and moorings to cope with partly very harsh conditions. The process of organising the material and systems is challenging, as no pre-assembled offshore/exposed-area aquaculture structures exist yet.
- For the development of offshore systems, it is highly recommended to involve users (e.g. shellfish farmers, retailers) in addition to engineers to find the best solution for an aquaculture and its mooring. Users complement the theoretical background, which is based on simulations and calculations by engineers, with a wealth of experience.
Relevant links
Contact(s)
Helena Zambalos (Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung) : helena.zambalos [at] awi.de (helena[dot]zambalos[at]awi[dot]de)