foundation” and its reef effects on fish and benthos. The question whether the
impact is positive, negative or negligible remains unanswered and depends on the
emphasis one places on the different implications of the reef effect. The present
findings, however, enable the designed structure to increase or to reduce biofouling
and megafauna settlement at offshore wind power foundations (Fig. 11.19). Krone
(2012b) defines it as “reef passivation”. Alternatively, all potential reef functions
could be activated if the development of a highly valuable artificial reef fauna is
intended, such as “reef activation” (for more details see Krone 2012b).
11.4 Technology
11.4.1 Longline-Techniques and Combination to Wind
Farm Turbines
In the coastal sea of Germany, there are some limitations to allow the expansion
of mussel culture activities. First, nearly 98% of the coastal sea has a nature
reserve status. Culture plot sizes are decreasing in order to follow the mussel
management plans of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower-Saxony (e.g. CWSS 2002;
Buck 2002) with no new licenses being approved in the future. Second, moving
more seawards to abandon the preserved areas, environmental conditions in the
North Sea are harsh and protected bays for safe mussel longline cultivation is
inexistent. However, exposed locations off the coast are in the focus for many
aquaculture activities worldwide (e.g. Polk 1996; Hesley 1997; Stickney 1998;
Bridger and Costa-Pierce 2003) and generated a vast quantity of projects in high
energy environments. With this in mind, a multiple use concept for another
newcomer, the offshore wind farm operator, has been developed (Buck et al.
2004). The offshore wind farm turbines provide space and attachment devices for
mariculture installations and therefore minimize the risks originating from high
energy environments (Buck et al. 2006b). The viability of a mussel cultivation
enterprise within offshore wind farm areas was intensively studied following
various factors, such as (1) the technological and biological feasibility, (2) the
legislative and regulatory constraints, (3) the environmental sustainability of
farming aquatic organisms at all, and (4) the profitability of this potential commercial operation (for review see Buck et al. 2008a). However, without the solid
foundations of the wind turbines as anchor or connection points, economic viable
installations of equipment for an extensive mariculture would decrease in view of
the high-energy environment in this part of the North Sea.
288
B.H. Buck et al.
impact is positive, negative or negligible remains unanswered and depends on the
emphasis one places on the different implications of the reef effect. The present
findings, however, enable the designed structure to increase or to reduce biofouling
and megafauna settlement at offshore wind power foundations (Fig. 11.19). Krone
(2012b) defines it as “reef passivation”. Alternatively, all potential reef functions
could be activated if the development of a highly valuable artificial reef fauna is
intended, such as “reef activation” (for more details see Krone 2012b).
11.4 Technology
11.4.1 Longline-Techniques and Combination to Wind
Farm Turbines
In the coastal sea of Germany, there are some limitations to allow the expansion
of mussel culture activities. First, nearly 98% of the coastal sea has a nature
reserve status. Culture plot sizes are decreasing in order to follow the mussel
management plans of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower-Saxony (e.g. CWSS 2002;
Buck 2002) with no new licenses being approved in the future. Second, moving
more seawards to abandon the preserved areas, environmental conditions in the
North Sea are harsh and protected bays for safe mussel longline cultivation is
inexistent. However, exposed locations off the coast are in the focus for many
aquaculture activities worldwide (e.g. Polk 1996; Hesley 1997; Stickney 1998;
Bridger and Costa-Pierce 2003) and generated a vast quantity of projects in high
energy environments. With this in mind, a multiple use concept for another
newcomer, the offshore wind farm operator, has been developed (Buck et al.
2004). The offshore wind farm turbines provide space and attachment devices for
mariculture installations and therefore minimize the risks originating from high
energy environments (Buck et al. 2006b). The viability of a mussel cultivation
enterprise within offshore wind farm areas was intensively studied following
various factors, such as (1) the technological and biological feasibility, (2) the
legislative and regulatory constraints, (3) the environmental sustainability of
farming aquatic organisms at all, and (4) the profitability of this potential commercial operation (for review see Buck et al. 2008a). However, without the solid
foundations of the wind turbines as anchor or connection points, economic viable
installations of equipment for an extensive mariculture would decrease in view of
the high-energy environment in this part of the North Sea.
288
B.H. Buck et al.