Offshore wind farms, while essential for tackling climate change, present a complex environmental picture with both benefits and risks to marine ecosystems.
On one hand, these farms can act as de facto marine reserves, limiting fishing and providing refugia for species as their structures create artificial reefs. However, they also pose substantial challenges. Birds and bats face collision risks and habitat loss, while some marine mammals may avoid wind farms or alter their behavior due to their presence. For instance, the Berwick Bank Wind Farm is expected to significantly impact seabird populations, including northern gannets, guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills, and puffins near Bass Rock, Scotland.
Source: Mongabay