A brand new report validates using fish environmental DNA (eDNA) survey strategies, declaring that they might rework the way in which fish ecology surveys are carried out for offshore wind farm developments. It has been produced by renewable vitality consultancy and repair supplier, Pure Energy, together with undertaking companions, EDF Renewables and environmental DNA and nature intelligence professional, NatureMetrics.
Michelle Elliott, the Principal Environmental Advisor main the undertaking on behalf of Pure Energy, mentioned: “As we quickly transition to renewable vitality sources to assist deal with local weather change, provide chain sources are underneath strain so there’s by no means been a higher want for brand new expertise and practices that assist to maximise sources.
The group mentioned the research demonstrates that eDNA-based surveys supply a market-ready resolution to optimise consenting section surveys of offshore wind website growth, in addition to ongoing monitoring and focused mitigation methods. Changing conventional survey strategies for fish communities round offshore wind farms with eDNA sampling will supply big advantages to the business by offering extra environment friendly and scalable consenting and website survey options which might scale back threat of delays to the event of offshore wind farms, while lowering prices for builders and operators, finally lowering the price of general vitality manufacturing.
Regulator and stakeholder acceptance of eDNA strategies to be used in offshore baseline setting and monitoring will now be a key step in direction of accelerating and bettering environmental monitoring for future offshore wind growth.”
The aim of the analysis was to supply an proof base for the potential acceptance of eDNA-based strategies as a legitimate different to traditional fish trawl surveys, so each strategies have been carried out in parallel. Seasonal co-located trawls and eDNA sampling have been carried out at 4 places across the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator, with eDNA sampling at two extra places inside the turbine array, which was not potential to survey by trawl sampling. Samples have been analysed for environmental DNA utilizing fish, vertebrate (fish, mammals and birds) and invertebrate assays. This report focuses on fish ecology and marine mammal incidence, whereas the investigation into the invertebrate communities is ongoing and can be reported on sooner or later.
The eDNA technique; which is a non-invasive sampling method that makes use of seawater samples that may be collected from a variety of vessels, to ship auditable, sturdy knowledge; constantly detected a higher variety of species than trawl knowledge (57 species detected by eDNA, together with eel (Anguilla anguilla), noticed dragonet (Callionymus lyra), sea snails (Liparis liparis and Liparis Monatgui), crystal goby (Crystallogobius linearis) and sea scorpion (Taurulus bubalis), in comparison with 26 species in trawls). Moreover, the analysis signifies that eDNA strategies not solely decide up particular person species developments however can be used to calculate ecological range metrics and monitor seasonal, spatial, and temporal variations in group composition.
Essential to this system is NatureMetrics’ pioneering use of eDNA to determine fish species all over the world. Accumulating and filtering a number of litres of seawater concentrates the DNA left behind in species’ waste merchandise, resembling pores and skin and tissue cells, which might then be processed within the NatureMetrics lab to determine all of the totally different fish species current. It means there isn’t any have to bodily catch and even see the fish to know they’re there. Samples will be collected by anybody and from a variety of vessels, which implies the duty will be carried out throughout different website investigation surveys lowering prices, time, and useful resource necessities.
Krystle Robson, Head of Offshore at NatureMetrics, mentioned: “Because the race for web zero ramps up, inexperienced infrastructure initiatives want new instruments to assist velocity up planning, whereas additionally making certain sturdy safety for biodiversity. This undertaking demonstrates the viability and scalability of eDNA as an answer to attain each these goals.”
In assist of the initiative, EDF Renewables supplied entry to the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator (BOD) for the analysis undertaking to happen.
Ryanne Burges, Director of Offshore Wind and Eire at EDF Renewables UK, mentioned: ” EDF Renewables is extremely proud to be part of this pioneering undertaking. Blyth Offshore wind farm has been a flagship of innovation for the business, so it was the right location to pilot using environmental DNA fish surveys. By accumulating and analysing DNA shed by fish into the water, this technique eliminates the necessity for extra invasive trawling surveys, higher defending marine ecosystems.
“Using environmental DNA in fish ecology additionally has the potential for big advantages to the broader business by offering a safer, extra environment friendly, inexpensive and scalable resolution which might velocity up growth and finally scale back the price of general vitality manufacturing. We’re excited to see this system rolled out throughout our future pipeline and urge adoption of the method rather than conventional trawl surveys by the business.”
The 18-month undertaking, which commenced in March 2022, obtained an innovation grant of £33, 918, from the Offshore Wind Progress Partnership (OWGP). The grant covers 50% of the whole undertaking value with Pure Energy and NatureMetrics offering vital in-kind contributions and EDF Renewables contributing additional financial funding.
The report will be downloaded right here www.naturalpower.com/uk/perception/assessing-fish-ecology-around-owfs-using-edna
