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Wave and Tidal Range Energy Devices Offer Environmental Opportunities as Artificial Reefs

Ruth Callaway, Chiara Bertelli, Richard Unsworth, Gill Lock, Tim Carter, Erik Friis-Madsen, Hans Christian Soerensen, Frank Neumann

Proceedings of the 12th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 27th Aug -1st Sept 2017, Cork, Ireland, Pages: 917-1 - 917-9

Swansea University Author: Ruth Callaway

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Abstract

Artificial structures such as wave and tidal energy devices provide surfaces and structures that are naturally colonised by marine flora and fauna. Properties of the building material, surface texture and structural complexity of the infrastructure will determine the suitability as a habitat for mar...

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Published in: Proceedings of the 12th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference 27th Aug -1st Sept 2017, Cork, Ireland
ISSN: 2309-1983 2309-1983
Published: Cork, Ireland European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC) 2017 2017
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35446
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Abstract: Artificial structures such as wave and tidal energy devices provide surfaces and structures that are naturally colonised by marine flora and fauna. Properties of the building material, surface texture and structural complexity of the infrastructure will determine the suitability as a habitat for marine organisms. While it may be desirable to inhibit fouling of some parts of the energy devices, the colonisation of other features may not compromise their overall functionality. Here we explore opportunities to not just tolerate the colonisation of marine infrastructure, but to design and manipulate features that would deliberately attract and host marine organisms. Serendipitous colonisation would be transformed into deliberately creating artificial reefs on the seafloor as well as floating reefs. This paper focuses on conceptual options for coastal, close-to-shore infrastructure, and it introduces two case studies: a proposed tidal lagoon that exploits tidal range energy and a wave energy converter. Positive reef-effects of these devices could include the enhancement of biodiversity of invertebrates and fish, habitat restoration or the production of commercial species.
Keywords: Artificial reef, biodiversity, environmental enhancement, wave energy converter, tidal lagoon
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Start Page: 917-1
End Page: 917-9