Risk formulation for the sonic effects of offshore wind farms on fish in the EU region.
In 2007, European leaders agreed to source 20% of their energy needs from renewable energy; since that time, offshore wind farms have been receiving attention in the European Union (EU). In 2008, the European Community submitted a proposal to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in order to combat marine noise pollution. In consideration of these facts, the present paper aims to deduce a preliminary hypothesis and its formulation for the effect of offshore wind farm noise on fish. The following general picture is drawn: the short-term potential impact during pre-construction; the short-term intensive impact during construction; and the physiological and/or masking effects that may occur over a long period while the wind farm is in operation. The EU's proposal to UNEP includes noise databases that list the origins of man-made sounds; it is advisable that offshore wind farms should be listed in the noise databases in order to promote rational environment management.
Departamento de Ciências Exactas e do Ambiente (CERNAS), ESAC - Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra, Bencanta, 3040-316 Coimbra, Portugal.
Ryunosuke
R
Kikuchi
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005062:European Union; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014919:Wind