EU project to farm kelp and mussels at offshore wind sites kicks off

By Baird Maritime - February 1, 2023.

*Professor Bela H. Buck of Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute delivers a presentation during the launch of the OLAMUR project in Bergen, Norway. (Photo: Institute of Marine Research)*

Twenty-five partners from EU industry and research organisations will work together to farm kelp and mussels at three pilot sites in Europe.

The OLAMUR project will be led by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and will farm kelp and mussels at two existing offshore wind farms and one fish farm that produces rainbow trout.

The project will investigate several aspects of how energy production can be combined with sustainable food production. The aspects to be studied include:

Practical solutions to the challenge of farming in exposed offshore environments.
Whether kelp/bivalves are safe for consumption, as there are concerns about microplastics and hydraulic fluid from wind turbines
Potential carbon storage and habitat enhancement from farming kelp/bivalves
Legislation and regulation

The project partners in the various work packages are now in the planning process. At the pilot facilities in Denmark and Estonia, gear will likely be put into the sea this year, with Germany following in 2024.