Off shore wind is actively being developed along the East Coast of the United States. Permits have been issued which allow wind projects to harm, harass and kill marine life. Reports are adding up for a disturbing number of marines deaths, as sonar surveying of the ocean floor and pile driving for the installation of wind turbines have commenced.
Boat strikes and entanglement in fishing gear contribute to whale deaths. The construction and operations of off shore wind now adds an additional human caused stress to marine species. Urgency and alarms are being raised for sustainable populations levels of the North Atlantic Right Whale, and other marine species within our global oceans ecosystems.
The critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale numbers less than 400 individuals. Some experts predict extinction of the species with just one more death of a female whale.
Dead Right Whale Found in Cow Bay|The Vineyard Gazette|January 29, 2024
Noise from wind turbine pile driving operations off the shores of Nantucket were measured by an independent researcher and are published in a technical report.
Technical Report: Pile Driving Noise Survey, November 2, 2023
Rand Acoustics, LLC 2
ABSTRACT
This technical report presents the methodology, analysis, and results of an independent investigation of underwater noise levels from wind turbine pile driving operations, conducted southwest of Nantucket on November 2, 2023.
Keywords: noise, offshore, survey, vessel, hydrophone, pile driving, piling, hammer, threshold, transmission loss, peak, RMS, SEL, thermocline, bubble curtain
FOREWORD
This technical report serves as a comprehensive document intended to provide valuable insights, analysis, and information pertaining to wind turbine pile driving noise. It has been prepared to support understanding of pile driving noise levels versus distance for a diverse audience, including professionals, researchers, policymakers, and interested stakeholders. The primary purpose of this report is to facilitate informed decision-making, foster discussion, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field, and improve noise control protections for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and other ESA-listed mammals and marine species
Marine deaths: January- May 2024 US Atlantic Ocean – East Coast; list complied by Robert Borghese