SPECIES Assessing the potential impact of subsea electricity cables on benthic organisms

In the context of developing MRE initiatives and integrating them into the environment, the SPECIES project aims to improve knowledge of the potential interaction between subsea electricity cables and benthic organisms in coastal marine ecosystems.

It will tackle issues of changes to the electromagnetic fields and the temperature around the cables, the reef effect of structures used to protect and stabilise the cables laid and the possible ‘reserve’ effect created by restrictions on usage of the area around the cables. To this end, the project will develop measuring tools to record the electromagnetic fields in situ and in the laboratory.

The SPECIES project will rely on several study sites where electricity cables are already installed and on experiments in a controlled environment. The scientific issues dealt with involve analysing the degree of change in benthic communities on and close to the cables and specifying the level of environmental risk associated with an increased number of subsea electricity cables.