NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced a new framework with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for monitoring underwater sound in an effort to “help safeguard marine resources” amid offshore wind energy development. NMFS said that the framework — which provides recommendations for offshore wind stakeholders to monitor and reduce the impact of wind projects using passive acoustic monitoring — will support its commitment to using best available science to maintain protected resource, habitat, and fisheries health.
NMFS said that it and BOEM may require developers to use passive acoustic monitoring through project permit and approval processes, with Northeast Fisheries Science Center Passive Acoustic Program Lead Sofie Van Parijs saying that the framework “aims to address the need for recommendations and best practices to help industry develop robust and consistent passive acoustic mitigation plans and long-term baseline monitoring programs.”
The framework includes minimum procedures and system requirements that address all phases of offshore wind project construction, as well as example use of the framework.
