Andrew B. Gill

the potential for cooperative management of elasmobranchs and offshore renewable energy development in uk waters

the uk governments strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet carbon mitigation obligations and the wider aims on sustainable development has provided the impetus for a rapid growth in activity associated with offshore renewable energy, particularly offshore wind farms. recently, consents for offshore renewable energy development (ored) were approved in three strategic areas—the outer thames estuary, the greater wash and the eastern irish sea. the scale of the planned developments means that each will have a large environmental footprint and multiple ored will have a cumulative effect on the environment. here we discuss current understanding of ored construction, operation and decommissioning with regard to the potential interaction with elasmobranchs because of the worrying status of elasmobranch populations within the uk coastal zone. based on the likely interactions between elasmobranchs and ored a framework is proposed which aims to promote cooperative initiatives between elasmobranch conservation management and the offshore renewables industry.

Increased ambient temperature alters the parental care behaviour and reproductive success of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

The effects of environmental warming on aquatic poikilotherms, such as fish, are likely to be manifest during periods of high metabolic demand. For species that invest heavily in parental-care, such as the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., their reproductive success may be adversely affected. In two separate experiments with temperatures raised by 2°C to 6°C above 16–17°C ambient over a whole breeding season, we quantified changes to parental-care behaviour and the resultant reproductive success of G. aculeatus. As temperature increased, male parental-care behaviour was altered, particularly the fanning of the fertilised eggs. Fanning behaviour was highly variable among individual fish however it increased over the course of incubation. Furthermore, all egg incubating fish consistently fanned at a faster rate in higher temperatures. The male fish responded to the increased temperature by putting more effort into fanning. The consequence was that these fish had a higher rate of incubation failure and an increased likelihood of mortality. The pattern of alteration to parental care behaviour and decreased reproductive success with higher temperature was remarkably consistent across the individual fish, which suggests consequences at the population level of increased ambient temperatures.

Offshore wind park monitoring programmes, lessons learned and recommendations for the future.

Over a decade of monitoring offshore wind park environmental impact triggered a reflection on the overall objectives and how to best continue with the monitoring programmes. Essentially, basic monitoring has to be rationalised at the level of the likelihood of impact detection, the meaningfulness of impact size and representativeness of the findings. Targeted monitoring is crucial and should continue to be applied to disentangle processes behind observed impacts, for instance the overarching artificial reef effect caused by wind parks. The major challenge, however, remains to achieve a reliable assessment of the cumulative impacts. A continuous international consultation and collaboration with marine scientists, managers, government officials and industry will be needed to ensure an optimisation of the future monitoring programmes.

Assessing the cumulative environmental effects of marine renewable energy developments: establishing common ground

Assessing and managing the cumulative impacts of human activities on the environment remains a major challenge to sustainable development. This challenge is highlighted by the worldwide expansion of marine renewable energy developments (MREDs) in areas already subject to multiple activities and climate change. Cumulative effects assessments in theory provide decision makers with adequate information about how the environment will respond to the incremental effects of licensed activities and are a legal requirement in many nations. In practise, however, such assessments are beset by uncertainties resulting in substantial delays during the licensing process that reduce MRED investor confidence and limit progress towards meeting climate change targets. In light of these targets and ambitions to manage the marine environment sustainably, reducing the uncertainty surrounding MRED effects and cumulative effects assessment are timely and vital. This review investigates the origins and evolution of cumulative effects assessment to identify why the multitude of approaches and pertinent research have emerged, and discusses key considerations and challenges relevant to assessing the cumulative effects of MREDs and other activities on ecosystems. The review recommends a shift away from the current reliance on disparate environmental impact assessments and limited strategic environmental assessments, and a move towards establishing a common system of coordinated data and research relative to ecologically meaningful areas, focussed on the needs of decision makers tasked with protecting and conserving marine ecosystems and services.

Marine Renewable Energy, Electromagnetic (EM) Fields and EM-Sensitive Animals

In the marine environment there are natural magnetic and electric fields associated with both physical and biological sources, and there are anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that permeate it. Many marine animals can detect electric and magnetic fields and utilize them in such important life processes as movement, orientation and foraging. Here, these EMFs are explored and discussed in terms of how they arise, their properties (particularly those that are measurable) and the animals that have the ability to detect them. Then the evidence base for whether anthropogenic EMFs can affect sensitive receptor animals is explored. As marine renewable energy developments (MREDs) expand rapidly worldwide, with multiple devices and networks of subsea cables that emit EMFs into the marine environment, it is necessary to focus on their interaction with marine animals. The MRED industry has to take EMFs into account, so the industry perspective is also covered. Finally, suggestions are made on how research on EMFs associated with MREDs (and other sources) and its interaction with marine animals should advance in future.

Future Research Directions to Reconcile Wind Turbine–Wildlife Interactions

Concurrent with the development of wind energy, research activity on wind energy generation and wildlife has evolved significantly during the last decade. This chapter presents an overview of remaining key knowledge gaps, consequent future research directions and their significance for management and planning for wind energy generation. The impacts of wind farms on wildlife are generally site-, species- and season-specific and related management strategies and practices may differ considerably between countries. These differences acknowledge the need to consider potential wildlife impacts for each wind farm project. Still, the ecological mechanisms guiding species’ responses and potential vulnerability to wind farms can be expected to be fundamental in nature. A more cohesive understanding of the causes, patterns, mechanisms, and consequences of animal movement decisions will thereby facilitate successful mitigation of impacts. This requires planning approaches that implement the mitigation hierarchy effectively to reduce risks to species of concern. At larger geographical scales, population-level and cumulative impacts of multiple wind farms (and other anthropogenic activity) need to be addressed. This requires longitudinal and multiple-site studies to identify species-specific traits that influence risk of mortality, notably from collision with wind turbines, disturbance or barrier effects. In addition, appropriate pre- and post-construction monitoring techniques must be utilized. Predictive modelling to forecast risk, while tackling spatio-temporal variability, can guide the mitigation of wildlife impacts at wind farms.

Effects of Pile Driving on the Behavior of Cod and Sole

Studies on the effects of offshore wind farm construction on marine life have focused on behavioral reactions in porpoises and seals (Thomsen et al. 2006). The effects on fish have only very recently come into the focus of scientists, regulators, and stakeholders (Popper and Hastings 2009). Pile-driving noise during construction is of particular concern because the very high sound pressure levels (see Thomsen et al. 2006) could potentially prevent fish from reaching breeding or spawning sites, finding food, and acoustically locating mates that could result in long-term effects on reproduction and population parameters. There is also the possibility that avoidance reactions might displace fish away from potential fishing grounds that could lead to reduced catches (see, e.g., Engas et al. 1996). However, the nature and extent of behavioral reactions of marine fish due to pile driving have not been studied in controlled experiments. Therefore, the impacts of pile driving on marine fish remain unknown.

Preface: the WinMon.BE 2013 conference: steps towards an efficient and effective offshore wind farm environmental impact assessment

The race for a timely combat of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide has pushed renewable energy developments to a higher echelon. At present, wind is one of the most profitable sources of exploitable renewable energy. Wind farms are popping up at many places worldwide. Their expansion on land, however is constrained, because sites where wind farms do not conflict with the high-quality environmental standards of the local community are limited. Being uninhabited, the marine environment offers a vast area for wind farm development. Being uninhabited, however, does not equal not being subject to impact. The sea and oceans host rich ecosystems, many of which have and continue to deliver priceless and indispensable goods and services to mankind. Offshore wind farm development is hence subject to environmental impact assessment and residual impacts should be carefully monitored. Most, if not all, current offshore wind farms are accompanied by an environmental monitoring programme. These programmes should be considered the ‘finger on the pulse’ to avoid surpassing critical impact levels. They further ensure the achievement of the knowledge base needed to adjust new developments in a scientifically and environmentally sensitive and sound manner. On 26–28 November 2013, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences organised the international scientific WinMon.BE 2013 conference on ‘‘Environmental impacts of offshorewind farms: learning from the past to optimise future monitoring programmes’’ (http:// odnature.naturalsciences.be/winmonbe2013).During the Guest editors: Steven Degraer, Jennifer Dannheim, Andrew B. Gill, Han Lindeboom & Dan Wilhelmsson / Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms

A Novel Field Study Setup to Investigate the Behavior of Fish Related to Sound

There is an urgent need to obtain information on the effects of underwater sound on marine fish due to imminent policy drivers, e.g., the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive, on one hand and the increasingly noisy activities in the marine environment on the other. Yet studying the influence of sound, particularly on the behavior of fish, is a challenging task. Studies in tanks can suffer problems with the reflection of sound, especially at the low frequencies that are most important for fish. Studies in the field are often limited because the observation of fish is very complicated.

Behavioral reactions of cod and sole to playback of pile driving sound.

The effect of anthropogenic underwater sound on fish has become an important environmental issue. Pile‐driving noise during construction is of particular concern as the very high sound pressure levels could potentially prevent fish from reaching breeding or spawning sites, finding food, and acoustically locating mates. This could result in long‐term effects on reproduction and populationparameters. Additionally, avoidance reactions might result in displacement away from potential fishing grounds and lead to reduced catches. However, reaction thresholds and therefore the impacts of pile driving on the behavior of fish are completely unknown. Pile‐driving noise was played back to cod and sole held in two large (40 m) net pens located in a quiet bay. Movements of the fish were analyzed using a novel acoustic tracking system. Received sound pressure level and particle motion were measured during the experiments. The results show significant movement responses to the pile‐driving stimulus in both species at re...