Offshore development: An opportunity to enhance our biodiversity

Considerations around Biodiversity are being increasingly integrated into construction projects on and offshore with governments around the world seeing them as an opportunity to enhance our environment.

In February, new rules were introduced in England which now require construction projects to deliver a 10% net gain for biodiversity. But what does this mean for offshore development?

In this article, we explore what terms like Biodiversity Net Gain and Marine Net Gain mean and share an informative case study of an international project which mapped out biodiversity in the North Sea.

Put simply, it is the expectation that any construction or development project should leave the affected environment in a measurably better state than before the project was undertaken.

This could be in terms of its wildlife, habitats, or ecosystems.

Recent legislation introduced in England on 12 February 2024 outlined an expectation for developers to create new habitats or enhance existing ones in any development. The new rules require construction projects on land to result in a 10% gain for biodiversity.

Besides onshore construction and property development, the rules could also apply to near-shore building projects – for port developments for example.

It is expected that the new requirements in England will mean the emergence of a “BNG marketplace” with developers working closely with environmental and wildlife charities to invest in nature restoration.

Marine Net Gain takes BNG as a concept and applies it to projects at sea. Given the challenges of construction in the marine environment, it means a slightly different approach to BNG, with more offsetting or compensation falling outside the boundaries of developments.

How construction will be offset is likely to differ depending on the jurisdiction and in the UK, the Government is currently consulting on how Marine Net Gain principles could work in England. It is expected to publish its findings soon.

IMCA’s Life Below Water workgroup, part of the Environmental Sustainability Committee, will be sharing more information for Members on this topic and how it potentially impacts global offshore developments soon.

This will include exploring case studies and best practice from around the globe, as well as insight from a range of expert organisations in this space.