Day 1 – Science Talks

Day one of SIME focused on the latest scientific research into Marine Artificial Structures, highlighting cutting-edge ideas and findings from global studies.

Welcome by Dickon Howell (INSITE Programme Director / Howell Marine Consulting)

Plenary talk by Colin Moffat (Chair of the ECOWind Programme Advisory Group)

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Session 1: Marine technology, data processes and AI

Daniel Jones (National Oceanography Centre): Autonomous exploration of the environment of the North-West Hutton decommissioning site

John Halpin (Scottish Association for Marine Science): NS3D analysis of imagery data – lessons learned from the INSITE NS3D project

Joe Marlow (Scottish Association for Marine Science): NS3D Creating 3D virtual reality environments to promote understanding of structures in the marine environment

Joshua Lawrence (Heriot Watt University): FISHSPAMMS Sampling challenges around marine artificial structures generate innovation in low risk, low cost and low carbon marine autonomous systems

Session 1: Panel Q&A

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Session 2: Plastics, environmental impacts and microbial interactions

Sarah Gall (University of Plymouth): INSITE Decommissioning and subsea plastics – Legacy plastics associated with offshore oil and gas installations

Natalie Hicks (University of Essex): FuECoMMS Project overview: benthic impacts of man-made structures

Ben Gregson (Anglia Ruskin University): FuECoMMS Assessing the impacts of decommissioned oil and gas platforms on benthic biodiversity

Session 2: Panel Q&A

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Session 3: Biodiversity effects, food webs and species interactions.

Chris Lynam (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) / Debbie Russell (Sea Mammal Research Institute): EcoSTAR Modelling foodwebs and diversity in the North Sea under multiple pressures

Conor Gilmour (Heriot Watt University): CHASANS highlights: the story so far

Corinne Whitby (University of Essex): FuECoMMS impact of offshore wind farms on benthic microbial communities

Paul Fernandes (Heriot Watt University): Artificial Marine Structures: effects on fish and fisheries

Anaëlle Lemasson (University of Plymouth): Turning DREAMS into reality: Overview of project findings

Session 3: Panel Q&A

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Session 4: Value of Marine Artificial Structures for decommissioning

Stephen Watson (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) – How man-made structures affect the delivery of ecosystem services: lessons from the DREAMS project

Molly James (Plymouth Marine Laboratory) – The ‘everything is everywhere’ framework: using network analysis as a spatial management tool for the commissioning and decommissioning of man-made structures at sea

Antony Knights (University College Cork) – INSITE Synthesis: building consensus around decommissioning

Session 4: Panel Q&A

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Day 2 – Policy Talks

On day two of the conference, delegates explored the practical application of INSITE science and examined the policy landscape, drivers, and challenges in offshore energy decommissioning and the energy transition

Welcome by Dickon Howell (INSITE Programme Director / Howell Marine Consulting)

Plenary talk by John Paterson (University of Aberdeen)

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Session 5: Management and decommissioning challenges of Marine Artificial Structures

Mark Shields (Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning): Offshore oil and gas activities – environmental regulation

Rob Cook & Chris McCabe (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs): Defra fisheries management plans and policies

Dickon Howell (Howell Marine Consulting / INSITE Programme Director): Industry Priorities

Session 5: Panel Q&A

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Session 6: Science-policy impact opportunities

Henk van Rein (Howell Marine Consulting / INSITE Programme Director Team): INfluence of Man-made Structures in the Marine Ecosystem

Martin Lilley (Defra): Environmental evidence gaps

Eddy Mayhew (Natural England): Marine Net Gain

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