Electromagnetic fields benthic fish : impact of the export cable of Net op Zee Borssele

Research output: Book/ReportReportProfessional

Abstract

This study is done as part of the permit requirements for TenneT to investigate whether and to what extent there are effects of electromagnetic fields on marine mammals and fish. In this study we assess if there are possible indications that EMFs around the cables of offshore windfarms influence the behaviour and presences of several commercial benthic fish species. In addition, it is also analyzed if there are indications of influence on the behaviour and presence of elasmobranchs and several commercial round fish species. Estimations of fish abundance are based on the catch of a beam trawl fished over the cable route and are compared to adjacent reference sites with no cables, parallel to the cable route, of the Borssele wind area. In order to ensure the catches came from the cable route being within the EMF, the beam trawls were equipped with EMF-sensors that were tested beforehand. Results of this study indicate that there was no significant difference between the catches of the target flatfish species in the vicinity of the cable and in the reference areas. For some of the assessed non-target species, it was shown that there is a difference between the cable route and the reference, specifically for dragonet and whiting. In these cases, the species showed higher abundance on the cable than in the reference area, suggesting some attraction by the cable. It remains however difficult to disentangle the impact of the EMF from other (indirect) factors. In conclusion, the results show that under the current circumstances there is no basis for any negative impact of the cable on the abundance of the species found. Furthermore, there is no solid indication of impact of the EMF at all, which is in line with recent literature where little effect on fish behaviour in relation to EMF is found and that there is no significant effect to be expected.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationIJmuiden
PublisherWageningen Marine Research
Number of pages40
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Publication series

NameWageningen Marine Research report
No.C013/22

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