Ørsted to install artificial reefs for cod recovery at Borssele 1 & 2

Ørsted and Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) are working together on a cod recovery project at the future Borssele 1 & 2 offshore wind farm. The project includes the installation of artificial reef structures. In 2020, the first artificial reefs will be installed. From 2021 to 2023, WMR will monitor the ecological effects of the reef structure.

Ørsted will create suitable habitats and feeding places for both young and adult Atlantic cod. The developer of the 700 MW offshore wind farm worked closely together with WMR reseachers on the design of the artificial reef structures. Next year, during construction activities, four structures will be installed at the site. Each of the four structures have a diameter of approximately 10 m and a height between 0.5 to 3 m. The concrete tubes have varying diameters to create a complex structure where species, other than cod, can also find a habitat.

Upon completion of the wind farm, WMR will monitor the ecological effects of the reefs. The behaviour of cod is monitored by means of a combination of acoustic telemetry and acoustic tags. The project will also provide knowledge on how wind farms can actively contribute in improving the natural habitats of species in the Dutch sector of the North Sea. The final findings will be published at the end of the monitoring project.

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