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Coexistence with Marine Life

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Working safely around marine mammals
Surveying fish populations and habitats
Identifying and mitigating impacts on birds
Resources and documents
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Sharing ocean and coastal environments with wildlife


Clean energy from offshore wind farms plays a vital role in eliminating the climate-warming emissions harming marine ecosystems. However, developers must take a careful, nature-conscious approach to constructing the projects which will generate that emissions-free energy. As the American leader in offshore wind, Ørsted is shaping an industry that can successfully coexist with marine wildlife. We plan, construct, and operate our wind farms in compliance with all environmental regulations, using proven mitigation measures to protect wildlife. We partner with research institutions, fund scientific studies, and pilot new technologies that improve protections for marine ecosystems.

What does coexistence mean… for marine life?


Many industries, including offshore wind, share the ocean with marine wildlife. These industries have a responsibility to work in a way that limits negative impacts on underwater creatures. For offshore wind, coexisting with marine life means doing our utmost to mitigate and minimize disruptions to marine and coastal animals.
A school of fish swims by seagrass in a marine environment where underwater creatures can coexist with offshore wind

Working safely around marine mammals


Every aspect of our offshore wind farm development, from surveys, to construction, to operations, is regulated by local, state, and federal agencies. Ørsted works closely with environmental and regulatory agencies to ensure we meet all standards for protected species. Among other mitigation activities, we:

  • Comply with vessel speed restrictions to minimize the risk of interactions with marine mammals
  • Comply with time of year restrictions to avoid major periods of fish spawning and marine mammal activity
  • Have dedicated observers constantly monitoring for marine mammals from onboard the vessels used for offshore siting and construction
  • When appropriate, pause site investigations and construction activities when marine mammals or sea turtles enter mitigation zones
A whale jumps out of the sea, one of many marine mammals being protected by the Ørsted-funded WhaleAlert app

An innovative whale awareness system

In an effort to protect whales, Ørsted is funding the WhaleAlert app. This application tracks the location of whales and sends information to mariners in almost real-time, helping vessels avoid collisions and saving whales’ lives.

Monitoring fisheries resources and habitats 


Ørsted monitors fisheries resources before, during, and after the construction of our offshore wind farms in all lease areas. We adhere to the monitoring requirements and guidance of organizations like the Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) and the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA). 
 

In addition, we work closely with local research institutions, colleges and universities, aquariums, and commercial and recreational fishers to assess fisheries resources and their habitats. Our survey methods are modeled on those used by state and federal agencies, enabling us to tailor our approach to the region and its native species. 

Fish swim by colorful underwater plants which can grow on artificial reef created by offshore wind turbines

Offshore wind turbines make good artificial reefs

Can fish thrive near offshore wind turbines? Yes! Inspire Environmental conducted a study on our Block Island Wind Farm and found that turbine structures create an artificial reef effect, bringing more fish to the area.

Read the study here

Identifying and mitigating impacts on birds


Before our offshore wind projects start, Ørsted is required to conduct an environmental impact study that identifies potential threats to birds. This assessment is sent to the relevant planning authorities for approval, along with plans for mitigating any impacts. Among other mitigation activities, we support habitat restoration, help protect breeding colonies from predators, improve nesting opportunities, fund innovative avian research, and monitor offshore bird behavior.

Resources

NOAA statement on whale deaths
Block Island Wind Farm fishing study
Joint industry study on bird behavior around offshore wind farms
BOEM offshore wind and marine mammals fact sheet

Our partners

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Responsible Offshore Science Alliance
Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
  • Do offshore wind farms harm whales? 

    No. The offshore wind industry is subject to the highest levels of protection for whales and other marine mammals. Every aspect of our surveys, construction, and operations are reviewed by multiple local, state, and federal agencies to ensure protected species remain unharmed. We are also subject to protective conditions, including vessel speed limitations, time of year restrictions for construction activities, and having dedicated observers onboard our vessels. 

    As noted by NOAA in an effort to combat misinformation, there is no evidence linking offshore wind activity to whale strandings. In fact, offshore wind farms have a crucial role to play in protecting whales by fighting climate change, which has notably altered whale feeding and migration patterns. These new patterns put whales at increased risk of colliding with vessels, one of the leading causes of large whale deaths. 

    To stop ships from crossing whales, Ørsted is funding the WhaleAlert app. This application relays close to real-time information on whale locations to commercial and recreational vessel operators, helping vessels avoid collisions. In parallel, we’re making industry-leading investments in new technologies to improve whale detection and monitoring and strengthen marine mammal protections across maritime industries. 

  • Does noise from offshore activities bother marine life?

    While offshore activities do produce noise, protective measures are employed at all stages of siting and construction to minimize noise and protect marine wildlife. 

    At the siting stage, technologies used for High Resolution Geophysical (HTG) surveys produce little noise. Few HRG sound sources used in offshore wind surveys operate at frequencies even detectable by marine mammals. While HRG sources are in use, Ørsted employs trained observers onboard our vessels, who continuously monitor for the presence of marine mammals. If marine mammals are detected in the vicinity of survey activity, HRG sound sources detectable to marine mammals are immediately shut down. 

    This is done out of an abundance of caution. Federal agencies have already determined that no injury to marine mammals or other protected species is expected from HRG sources, as the sound produced by this equipment has been shown to diminish rapidly with distance. 

    At the construction phase, Ørsted uses state-of-the-art noise abatement and mitigation technologies to reduce noise that would otherwise disturb underwater life. Our offshore projects employ technologies like double bubble curtains and hydrosound dampeners to mitigate underwater noise. Our experts are also working closely with innovators developing new technologies that will further reduce noise during monopile installation. 

  • How do you protect marine mammals during siting and construction?

    We employ a variety of proven mitigation techniques and technologies to ensure marine mammals are protected during offshore wind farm construction. These include: 

    • Dedicated observers to keep a lookout for whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other marine life. If any marine animals are spotted within certain siting or construction zones, work is immediately halted. 
    • Acoustic monitoring technology. This enables us to listen for approaching marine mammals, alerting us to their presence even in low-visibility conditions. If marine mammals are detected, work is halted to ensure their safety. 
    • Clearance and shutdown zones. Clearance zones are specific areas which must be free of marine mammals before activities start. Shutdown zones are areas where siting and construction activities must be immediately halted if marine mammals enter. 
  • Do vessels used in offshore wind construction harm marine wildlife? 

    No. Vessels used to build offshore wind farms work in relatively small construction areas, limiting their potential contact with marine wildlife. All vessels must comply with speed restrictions and noise reduction regulations, and are required to have observers onboard looking out for marine creatures. 

    When Ørsted uses vessels to build offshore wind farms, we take extensive precautions to minimize their impact on marine life. We comply with all requirements noted above and coordinate extensively with other maritime stakeholders, including local mariners and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

  • Does the offshore wind industry use the same survey technologies as oil and gas? 
    As part of our pre-construction activities, Ørsted undertakes a series of offshore surveys to acquire information required for state and federal permits and help inform project design. This process is called offshore site investigation. 

    One kind of offshore site investigation we conduct is High-Resolution Geophysical (HRG) surveys, which allow us to map the seafloor and subsurface geology. HRG surveys use a combination of acoustic (i.e., sound-producing) equipment and passive sensors that do not produce sound. These surveys make use of the same equipment used by oceanographers to map the world’s oceans, and by search and rescue teams to locate downed ships and aircrafts. The same equipment is also used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to locate sand resources to replace sand on public beaches. 

    Both offshore wind and oil and gas conduct HRG surveys using some common equipment. However, technologies used in offshore wind produce much lower energy (in the form of underwater noise) and travel far shorter distances from the survey vessel than those used by the oil and gas industry for deep-sea exploration. Oil and gas exploration requires the use of powerful sound sources, such as air guns, to conduct seismic testing and seismic blasting. These sound sources and techniques are not used in HRG surveys for offshore wind.