The impact of wind farm construction on swimming animals in the South Yellow Sea: An evaluation based on the biodiversity and microplastics

Abstract

Wind farms (WFs) have grown significantly in recent years, especially in the offshore. However, their construction can adversely affect marine life and expose species to microplastics (MPs) pollution, posing a threat to human health through seafood consumption. In order to further understand the impact of WF construction activities on swimming animal resources and the accumulation of MPs ingested by dominant economic species occupying significant ecological niches, this study investigated changes in swimming animal resources over six periods during three years of WF construction in the South Yellow Sea and evaluated MPs ingestion in three economically valuable dominant species (Portunus trituberculatus, Collichthys lucidus, and Coilia nasus) before and after construction. The study found that the most significant negative impacts on swimming animal resources occurred during the early construction stages, with recovery observed as construction finished. By the operational phase in autumn 2021, all indicators had exceeded pre-construction levels from spring 2019, except for biomass, which had not fully recovered. MPs were identified in every biological sample, and the MPs contamination in the gills was higher than that in the gut and skin tissues. The average abundance of MPs and the overall MPs hazard index of the three organisms were higher than those in other areas and pre-construction levels. WF construction in the South Yellow Sea caused short-term negative impacts on swimming animal resources with long-term recovery, but the increased MPs pollution during the construction process requires continuous monitoring and management to achieve sustainable development.