The recent investigations and researches in European and American countries in terms of aggregation of fish around offshore wind power plants

Abstract

Offshore wind power plant is one of the promising energy sources as a marine renewable energy. Its effect on marine species including fishes, marine mammals, sea birds and etc. have been researching in the world. The offshore wind power plants could attract or distract marine species. The aggregation of marine species is called reef effect. This paper shows the recent trend of the investigations and researches in terms of aggregation of marine species on and around artificial offshore structures in European and American countries. Especially, reef effect of the offshore wind power plants was summarized in this paper to announce the reef effect for Japanese regulators and stakeholders.