As the project’s key facilitator, Blauwwind Consortium granted access to their wind farm and arranged the necessary permits. Van Oord was responsible for designing and developing the oyster baskets used in the field, and Bluestream Offshore arranged the vessels needed to carry out the missions. Our scientific partner, Eurofins AquaSense, delivered reports on the monitoring results.
Blauwwind
Our impact
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Boosting oyster populations for a stronger sea
Flat oysters have nearly vanished from the Dutch North Sea, despite their vital role in marine ecosystems. Oyster reefs play a crucial role in marine environments, like filtering seawater, providing habitat for small fish, and attracting species like sharks, rays, and seals. This project explores whether oysters can reproduce and establish on shell and stone substrates around wind turbines. It also examines overall biodiversity in this newly built wind farm, assessing how species like soft coral adapt to the reef structures.
The Collaboration
Project partners
Research
To restore flat oysters in the North Sea, we need to know what helps them thrive in wind farms. In 2020, 2,400 oysters were placed in broodstock structures at Blauwwind to test reproduction and settlement. Researchers studied growth, habitat, and predator exposure to find the best conditions for future reefs that boost marine biodiversity.
Our role
The Rich North Sea executed Blauwwind’s vision for this project, translating their ecological ambitions into a practical installation and monitoring project. Blauwwind sought to design and build the Borssele III and IV wind farms in a way that supports a healthier sea, promoting responsible use and regeneration of the nature that once inhabited this area. To make this happen, The Rich North Sea assembled the team of partners and stakeholders, led the missions, and turned sustainable goals into action.
About the location
This project is located in the Borssele III & IV wind area, which is about 55 kilometres off the coast of Vlissingen. The turbines will supply a renewable energy equivalent to the consumption of 825,000 Dutch households. The Rich North Sea is working here with the Blauwwind consortium.
Results
The oyster broodstock structures held up well, and the results are promising! Monitoring in 2021 and 2023 showed that 70% of the adult oysters survived, and many were ready to reproduce. Even better, young oysters were spotted both inside and outside the baskets, and oyster larvae were found in the water.
This means the oysters aren’t just surviving; they’re settling and spreading! These findings prove that offshore wind farms can support oyster restoration, but there’s still more to learn. By fine-tuning the conditions, we can create thriving oyster reefs that boost biodiversity and bring even more life to the North Sea.
Related news
Underwater images show a lot of marine life in Blauwwind wind farm
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Blauwwind´s offshore wind farm successful breeding ground for flat oysters
New research highlights the promising role that wind farms can play in enhancing North Sea biodiversity. A nature enhancement project in the Borssele III & IV wind farm reveals that flat oysters are successfully reproducing amidst offshore wind turbines. The Rich North Sea, in collaboration with wind farm owner Blauwwind, placed a total of 2,400 flat oysters at the base of wind turbines on so-called 'oyster tables' in 2020. It now appears that the deployed oysters have produced offspring.
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Flat oysters thrive in the Blauwwind wind farm: survival of over 96%
A team of researchers went to the Borssele III & IV wind farms to monitor the 2,400 outsourced flat oysters. The oyster tables were placed at the base of four wind turbines in October 2020. Ecologist Renate Olie is enthusiastic: "The baskets are full of life and the survival of the oysters is high, so that's good news."
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