INSITE (Influence of marine artificial Structures In The Ecosystem) is an industry-funded research programme supporting rigorous, independent, high-quality research. Its mission is to build the scientific evidence base needed to understand the effects of MAS and to guide sustainable management and marine policy into the future.
The INSITE North Sea Programme is funded by an Industry Executive Committee (IEC) comprising of 9 oil and gas partners who work collectively to identify priority research themes, facilitate access to field sites and data, and bring global industry experience into the scientific conversation.
With around 99% of the North Sea naturally made up of sandy or muddy seabeds, the growing presence of offshore hard substrate infrastructure is drawing increasing attention from those who share and manage this marine space. Marine Artificial Structures introduce new and altered habitats that can influence biodiversity and affect ecosystem processes in surrounding areas. Yet evidence of their wider ecological and social implications remains limited.
INSITE was created to expand this knowledge base, providing robust scientific insights into how marine life and ecosystem functions may be affected, and exploring how society perceives and values offshore environments. These perspectives are central to shaping future decisions about the management, decommissioning and potential repurposing of structures at sea.
Since its launch in 2015, INSITE has supported 18 research projects across two phases, involving 17 institutions from five countries and investing nearly £10 million in funding. Now in its third phase (2024–2027), the INSITE programme is generating new evidence to strengthen the connection between science, industry and policy by assessing the ecological and social value of MAS. Phase 3 research is being delivered through two focused projects investigating contaminants in pipelines and social attitudes and perceptions of offshore structures.
HMC supported NERC and the Crown Estate in the development of a Partnership and Opportunity Programme to understand the Ecological Consequences of Offshore...
The Ecological Effects of Floating Offshore Wind programme (ECOFlow) plans to build on the success of the groundbreaking ECOWind initiative. Whilst ECOWind focuses on the sustainable expansion of fixed offshore wind alongside supporting healthy marine environments, ECOFlow will similarly deliver impactful, policy-ready science, but to specifically understand the effects of floating offshore wind on the whole marine ecosystem.