Abstract
Researching the macrozoobenthos where the WEC is located has been carried out in line with the Agreement. Extensive biological research on biodiversity was carried out during the zerostate analysis. The research included plankton as well as nekton analyses. The sampling of the seawater was done in close proximity to the deployment location to analyse the plankton component (phytoplankton, zooplankton, and ichthyoplankton), chlorophyll a as well as the water’s microbiological quality. The analysis of phytobenthos, macrozoobenthos, and infauna has been carried out with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on a surface of 50x50m and sediment samples while the ichthyofauna analysis has been carried out in the aquatory in front of the Port of Bar.
Given that this is a one-time survey that needs to show the impact of the WEC on living organisms at the location and its close proximity, we have agreed to investigate benthic organisms that actually suffer the most and are directly impacted by all changes at the location.
The zero-state (base-study) analysis has shown that the communities on the seabed at the site show no presence of algae. One of the reasons is the moveable seabed that does not allow these sessile organisms to attach, and the other is a depth of almost 30m and a small amount of light reaching the seabed, thus creating unfavourable conditions for the development of the plant component.
Based on the listed facts, in our research of benthos components we have analysed the state of the macrozoobenthos from a qualitative perspective as well as quantitatively through sediment samples.