Recent studies on the subject prove that scientists were right about the reasons for marine life thriving near offshore structures of wind farms. Marine biologists tracked 2 group of seals at two different wind farms. One pack of seals regularly visited a farm in Alpha Ventus which lies off the German coast while another was seen frequenting the southeastern coast of England at Sheringham Shoal. Many crustaceans and small fish generally live around the surface of the sea and close to giant columns that stretch to the ocean floor.
The movements were tracked using GPS technology and it was noticed that the seals moved from one turbine to the other looking for prey in these areas. Marine biologists record the grid pattern of a track made by an offshore wind farm in Norfolk in the latest edition of Current Biology. Researcher Deborah Russell from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland was amazed to note that the seal moved in between turbines “in a straight line” looking for prey and stopped at certain spots where it was abundantly found. She says; “At present these structures cover a small proportion of the extent of the at-sea distribution of seals. As wind farms become more extensive, many more seals will like be affected.”
Europe has numerous wind farms along their coasts as the farmers use the environmental friendly energy project as a cheaper solution for electricity. In the U.S there is resistance at establishing such farms as the homeowners along the coast prefer to retain the views.
Wind farms sit on the ocean floor and this causes artificial reefs that attract crustaceans and other invertebrates. This in turn lures both gray seals as well as harbor seals to forage in this area for food. Marine biologists continue to research the topic to find out how these man-made structures will affect the environment.
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