A recent study conducted by experts from the University of Girona, the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and the Institute of Marine Sciences highlights the potential negative impacts of proposed offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Roses on vulnerable marine species.
This research is significant as it represents the first comprehensive assessment of floating offshore wind technology's effects on Mediterranean marine biodiversity.
Main Findings:
The study identifies 135 vulnerable species at risk, including key marine mammals like the bottlenose dolphin, seabirds such as the Balearic shearwater, and various elasmobranchs like the blue shark.
Stress factors include noise, vibrations, and habitat loss.
Published in the journal Marine Policy, the study emphasizes the urgent need for more data and specific species studies to understand these impacts better.
The research is part of the BIOPAIS project, which aims to balance economic decarbonization with marine ecosystem preservation in high biodiversity areas like the Gulf of Roses.