Pierre LABOURGADE

Evaluating the habitat use and connectivity of mobile fish at multiple spatial scales and implication for the development of offshore windfarms.  

The development of offshore wind farms (OWF) is rapidly increasing, especially in Europe. These infrastructures lead to habitat modification within the marine ecosystem which may impact on biological communities. Initial studies have shown that OWFs act as artificial reefs for fish communities, with species showing strong residency patterns around OWF structures. However, studies are limited to a few commercial species and over relatively short time periods. In addition, submarine electric cables within OWFs generate electromagnetic fields that can affect the behaviour of electro- and magneto-sensitive species. The strong growth of offshore wind power is likely to amplify these effects, but existing information on their consequences on fish communities is still limited. This project aims to address this gap and to identify and assess the effects of OWFs, and their connecting cables, on fish communities. In particular, this thesis will address 4 specific questions through the use of acoustic telemetry: (1) how do electro- and magnetosensitive species respond to electromagnetic fields? (2) What are the occupancy patterns of species with high conservation and/or commercial value within OWFs? (3) What is the degree of connectivity among OWFs and other marine habitats by these species and do they exhibit multi-year fidelity? (4) How do environmental conditions influence these patterns?