Framework for assessing and mitigating the impacts of offshore wind energy development on marine birds

Croll, Donald A.; Ellis, Aspen A.; Adams, Josh; Cook, Aonghais S.C.P.; Garthe, Stefan; Goodale, Morgan Wing; Hall, C. Scott; Hazen, Elliott; Keitt, Bradford S.; Kelsey, Emma C.; Leirness, Jeffery B.; Lyons, Don E.; McKown, Matthew W.; Potiek, Astrid; Searle, Kate R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4624-9023; Soudijn, Floor H.; Rockwood, R. Cotton; Tershy, Bernie R.; Tinker, Martin; VanderWerf, Eric A.; Williams, Kathryn A.; Young, Lindsay; Zilliacus, Kelly. 2022 Framework for assessing and mitigating the impacts of offshore wind energy development on marine birds. Biological Conservation, 276, 109795. 15, pp. 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795

Abstract/Summary

Offshore wind energy development (OWED) is rapidly expanding globally and has the potential to contribute significantly to renewable energy portfolios. However, development of infrastructure in the marine environment presents risks to wildlife. Marine birds in particular have life history traits that amplify population impacts from displacement and collision with offshore wind infrastructure. Here, we present a broadly applicable framework to assess and mitigate the impacts of OWED on marine birds. We outline existing techniques to quantify impact via monitoring and modeling (e.g., collision risk models, population viability analysis), and present a robust mitigation framework to avoid, minimize, or compensate for OWED impacts. Our framework addresses impacts within the context of multiple stressors across multiple wind energy developments. We also present technological and methodological approaches that can improve impact estimation and mitigation. We highlight compensatory mitigation as a tool that can be incorporated into regulatory frameworks to mitigate impacts that cannot be avoided or minimized via siting decisions or alterations to OWED infrastructure or operation. Our framework is intended as a globally-relevant approach for assessing and mitigating OWED impacts on marine birds that may be adapted to existing regulatory frameworks in regions with existing or planned OWED.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	0006-3207
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	offshore wind energy development, displacement, collision, renewable energy, marine birds, seabirds, mitigation, cumulative impacts
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	31 Dec 2022 17:06 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533797

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

0006-3207

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

offshore wind energy development, displacement, collision, renewable energy, marine birds, seabirds, mitigation, cumulative impacts