Offshore wind turbines might act as artificial reefs, study suggests

A study published in Scientific Reports found that offshore wind turbine foundations in southern New England could function as artificial reefs, with hard structures colonised by mussels, barnacles and anemones that trigger ecosystem changes and attract bottom-dwelling fish and larger predators.

This is based on modelled projections of conditions roughly four years post-installation, not observed data from built wind farms. Researchers note major gaps in baseline seabed data for areas targeted for development.