Identifying the Potential of Floating Artificial Benthic Ecosystems to Underpin Offshore Development

Offshore developments are essentially artificial systems operating in the open ocean. Developing floating benthic artificial systems that act similar to inshore systems for offshore development have the potential to enhance global ecosystem services from marine environments as well as supporting offshore developments through wave attenuation, nutrient recycling, carbon sequestration and, where applicable, provision of marine products. Given the societal concerns over offshore developments, encapsulating these developments in an ecosystem framework that can demonstrate positive ecosystem attributes is more likely to lead to social acceptance of offshore developments.