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

Donald A Croll; Aspen A Ellis; Josh Adams; Aonghais S. C. P. Cook; Stefan Garthe; Morgan Wing Goodale; C. Scott Hall; Elliott L. Hazen; Bradford S. Keitt; Emily C. Kelsey; Jeffery B Leirness; Don E Lyons; Matthew W. McKown; Astrid Potiek; Kate R Searle; Floor H. Soudjin; R. Cotton Rockwood; Bernie R. Tershy; Martin Tinker; Eric A. Vanderwerf; Kathryn A Williams; Lindsay C. Young; Kelly Zilliacus

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795

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

Biological Conservation

By: Donald A Croll, Aspen A Ellis, Josh Adams, Aonghais S. C. P. Cook, Stefan Garthe, Morgan Wing Goodale, C. Scott Hall, Elliott L. Hazen, Bradford S. Keitt, Emily C. Kelsey, Jeffery B Leirness, Don E Lyons, Matthew W. McKown, Astrid Potiek, Kate R Searle, Floor H. Soudjin, R. Cotton Rockwood, Bernie R. Tershy, Martin Tinker, Eric A. Vanderwerf, Kathryn A Williams, Lindsay C. Young, and Kelly Zilliacus

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795

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Abstract

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.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Framework for assessing and mitigating the impacts of offshore wind energy development on marine birds
Series title	Biological Conservation
DOI	10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109795
Volume	276
Year Published	2022
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Contributing office(s)	Western Ecological Research Center
Description	109795, 15 p.
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page