Thanks to the plot provided by North Sea Farmers, we’re able to carry out accessible research at the Offshore Test Site. Together with NIOZ, Waardenburg Ecology, and ARC Marine, we’re studying four different reef structures. The site also offers the perfect setting to test new monitoring techniques with innovative startups. The project is managed by Oskar van Megen from The Rich North Sea.
The Offshore Test Site
Our impact
Discovering how artificial reefs can rebuild marine life
Along with working in offshore wind farms, we conduct research closer to the coast at The Offshore Test Site. Located 12 kilometers off Scheveningen, this one-square-kilometer plot is owned by North Sea Farmers and serves as a playground for innovation. We’re testing four different artificial reefs here on a small scale to determine which structures work best as shelter and breeding grounds for marine life. The most effective designs will be scaled up and installed in wind farms, helping to restore marine ecosystems on a larger scale.
The Collaboration
Project partners
The research
At the Offshore Test Site, we are studying four different structures: three types of artificial reefs, and one designed for releasing oysters.
This includes:
- (T)REE(F): A design by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). Pear wood is attached to one of the artificial reefs to test whether this biodegradable material can function as a sustainable underwater structure.
- WERC-dock: With this design, Waardenburg Ecology is investigating whether this lightweight, stable construction is a cost-effective alternative for placing and monitoring flat oysters.
- ReefCubes: The artificial reefs developed by ARC Marine are made from eco-friendly materials and designed to offer shelter and attachment points for marine animals and plants.
A big advantage of this plot is that diving is allowed here, unlike in wind farms. Divers check the stability of the structures and observe which species are living in and around them. With the help of photos, videos, and innovative monitoring techniques, we get a clear picture of how the reefs affect biodiversity.
Our role
“Our plot in the Offshore Test Site offers many opportunities for collaboration. It’s the perfect place to test technological innovations, such as monitoring underwater structures.”
-Oskar van Megen, Projectmanager, The Rich Northsea
The Rich North Sea coordinates research at the Offshore Test Site, giving partners the space to place and monitor artificial reef structures. We lead the missions, support testing efforts, and explore how successful results can be scaled up for use in offshore wind farms.
Want to work together?
Do you have an innovative monitoring technique you’d like to test, or are you looking to get involved in our work at the Offshore Test Site in another way? We would love to hear from you!
About the location
The North Sea Farmers offer six plots for research and innovation, and we lease one of them. Located 12 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen, the Offshore Test Site is easily accessible, with depths ranging from 12 to 20 meters. Unlike wind farms, diving is permitted here, making research more feasible.
Results
Our 2024 dive mission brought hopeful results: the artificial reefs were full of life and seem to support a noticeable boost in biodiversity. In 2021, we observed 25 species. This year, that number rose to 39. Sea anemones, pen shells, mussels, shell worms, and predatory fish like conger eels and cod were all spotted for the first time!
Related news
Dive mission at Offshore Test Site reveals: underwater structures can boost biodiversity
Artificial structures off the coast of Scheveningen can contribute to an increase in biodiversity. This was confirmed by a recent dive mission at the Offshore Test Site where The Rich North Sea rents a plot, located 12 kilometers off the coast of Scheveningen. In 2021, four underwater structures were installed here at a depth of 20 meters to monitor the development of species richness around them.
Read more
The Rich North Sea starts with Offshore Test Site
The "Offshore Test Site" of The Rich North Sea consists of various test locations where we try-out our work for wind farms on a small scale. This gives us good insights into what works best at sea and we will soon reap the benefits of this when we start working directly in wind farms in the North Sea.
Read more
Dive into Nature Enhancement: The Rich North Sea Toolbox is Here!
It's finally here! We're excited to announce the launch of the Rich North Sea Toolbox, your knowledge hub for underwater nature enhancement. The Toolbox is designed to inspire, educate, and empower individuals and organizations to make a profound positive impact on marine ecosystems, starting with the North Sea. Over the past few months, we've added new content and sections on monitoring, species, and nature enhancement methods. Whether you're a marine biologist, project manager, environmental advocate, or you're curious about nature inclusive design, the Toolbox will spark your curiosity and expand your knowledge. We hope that one day, using the Toolbox isn't just a best practice, but the only way of doing business in the offshore sector.
Read more