GB-Lowestoft: Improving understanding of the potential effects and consequences of displacement of marine mammals by wave and tidal stream arrays

Description

The aim of this project is to improve understanding of the potential risks of displacement of marine mammals from essential activities (e.g. feeding, reproduction) in relation to wave and tidal stream arrays, and development of an agreed approach to assessing the potential effects and consequences of displacement. Objectives: •To review and provide a description of current understanding of displacement of marine mammals; it's potential causes and effects (e.g. impacts in terms of fitness, mortality and productivity); vulnerability of different species (can any be screened out to our knowledge or what information would we need to decide this?), and appropriate buffer zones. Distinctions are to be drawn between displacement, disturbance, and barrier effects. •To provide a review of current displacement assessment methods, including a review of existing models (e.g. those used by offshore wind industry) to investigate the consequences of displacement and refinement of these models for use in wave and tidal industries. Investigation into whether these models can be expanded to cover marine mammal species considered sensitive to wave and tidal developments. •To develop a displacement assessment framework suitable for wave and tidal developments, including methods to assess displacement from large scale arrays and cumulative developments, how to consider collision risk, disturbance (e.g. from underwater noise), displacement and other potential impacts in combination. To respond to this opportunity or to find out more, please follow this link: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/K3W56MWVT6