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Compatibility of offshore energy installations with marine protected areas

Thurstan, R; Yates, KL; O'Leary, BC

Authors

R Thurstan

BC O'Leary



Contributors

C Bradshaw
Editor

Abstract

Energy generation sites are increasingly being constructed in coastal and marine spaces and the rate of implementation is likely to increase in coming decades, due to a combination of increasing energy demand and international targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In many cases the installation of energy generation structures greatly reduces or entirely prevents other potentially damaging industries, such as fishing and mining, from operating in surrounding areas. These sites also provide hard substratum and complex habitat in what are commonly soft-sediment environments. As such, they have been associated with high rates of colonisation by marine life, increased biodiversity and increased productivity. However, energy generation sites also have the potential to damage and fragment habitats and associated communities, and increase noise and/or chemical pollution in the marine environment. As competition for marine space grows, an emerging literature is increasingly considering whether conservation objectives and energy generation can be colocated. We synthesise available literature from around the world to consider what the potential conservation benefits of marine energy generation sites are. We discuss whether such sites are compatible with marine protected area designation, and examine this argument both from a biodiversity and policy perspective.

Citation

Thurstan, R., Yates, K., & O'Leary, B. (2018). Compatibility of offshore energy installations with marine protected areas. In K. Yates, & C. Bradshaw (Eds.), Offshore Energy and Marine Spatial Planning (214-230). Routledge

Online Publication Date Mar 29, 2018
Publication Date Mar 20, 2018
Deposit Date Oct 31, 2019
Publisher Routledge
Pages 214-230
Series Title Earthscan
Book Title Offshore Energy and Marine Spatial Planning
ISBN 9781315666877;-9781138954533
Publisher URL https://www.routledge.com/Offshore-Energy-and-Marine-Spatial-Planning/Yates-Bradshaw/p/book/9781138954533
Related Public URLs https://www.routledge.com/