Robbert Zuijderw ijk
There are several mechanisms by which the
placement of the array can lead to the gathering
of certain species, with the possibility
of negative effects on those species and the
environment as well. First of all, the platform
might serve as shelter from the wind and sunlight.
Secondly, after array deployment, plastic
concentrations near the platform will increase,
leading to a higher density of plastic in front of
the booms and near the platform. Therefore,
the risk of plastic consumption will be higher in
this area.Moreover, ghost nets, fishing lines, and other large pieces
of plastic (>50 cm) will gather at the boom, and consequently
may result in animal entanglement. Entanglement
in these floating bodies usually leads to death of
the particular animal, which – in turn - became a potential
food source for predators.
Another aspect one has to consider is microorganism
colonization. As the plastic will have been in the ocean
for quite some time before entering the NPSG, some of
it will be colonized by microorganisms (Carson, Nerheim,
Carroll, & Eriksen, 2013), possibly attracting plankton.
Furthermore, different species of plankton with positive
buoyancy, especially hydroplankton that inhabit the water
layer close to the surface, will accumulate in front of
the array. We cannot predict what the effect of this accumulation
will be for the plankton community and to which
extent will attract animals higher in the food chain.
It is definitely conceivable that filter feeders, fish and marine
mammals which are known to feed near the surface
(Bannister,2008; McKinnell & Dagg, 2010; Sims, 2000) will
be attracted to the presence of nutrient and food associated
with the platform. Larger vertebrates in particular
are the most vulnerable to be injured by the array itself.
They can become wounded or die due to the moving parts
of the conveyer belt or the slurry pump.
A small amount of bycatch is inherent to the platform’s
operation, but only experimental research can clarify
the impact of the potential bycatch on the species found
within the North Pacific. The novelty inherent to the area
of platform placement make impossible to fully predict
the impact on the marine ecosystem, further emphasizing
and need for in-depth extensive ecological surveys
during Phase II. Further research will be also done in this
phase to consider all the possible species that could get
in contact with the array.