Wind farms create ‘marine ranches’: research teamBy Yu Chao-fu, Rachel Lin and Esme Yeh / Staff reporters, with staff writerThe underwater structures of offshore wind farms along the Taiwan Strait have become “marine ranches,” creating highly diversified reef ecosystems, a research team from National Taiwan Ocean University’s Institute of Marine Biology found. Although offshore wind power construction used to be considered harmful to marine ecosystems, the team yesterday said it found that the submerged parts of wind turbines attract fish dwelling in different ocean layers. Young snappers and pennant coralfish swim around an offshore wind power structure in an undated photograph. Photo: CNAAlthough offshore wind farms were not built for conservation, they maintain biodiversity, the research team said, adding that more comprehensive fishery management rules should be established to promote offshore wind farms’ role in energy transition and marine conservation. The research team developed a small, energy-efficient and highly stable muon sensor system that is suitable for extended use in the field, he said.

Source: Taipei Times January 12, 2026 17:14 UTC