Ocean Winds has published the results of a biodiversity study at the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic floating offshore wind project, located around 20 km off the coast of Viana do Castelo. The findings are based on eight years of environmental monitoring, supported by additional studies beyond regulatory requirements. The report was prepared by Blue Grid, with contributions from MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and Polytechnic of Leiria.
The study indicates that natural seasonal and interannual variation is the main factor influencing marine communities across trophic levels. While differences were observed between the project area and control sites, overall species abundance was higher within the wind farm area.
Results suggest that the project has not disrupted ecosystem functioning. The fishing exclusion zone and reef effect appear to provide local ecological benefits, offering refuge and feeding areas for marine species.
No adverse effects were identified at lower trophic levels such as phytoplankton and zooplankton. At higher trophic levels, including invertebrates and fish, the study recorded positive ecological trends, with indications of increased abundance linked to the exclusion and reef effects.
Additional monitoring recorded five marine mammal species, 33 bird species, three bat species and 52 fish species in the project area. The site is primarily used as a migration route, with increased dolphin and porpoise activity observed during operation. No significant negative impacts, such as bird collisions or bat roosting, were identified.
Overall, the findings indicate that floating offshore wind installations can coexist with marine ecosystems and may contribute to local biodiversity under certain conditions.
