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. 2012:2012:450685.
doi: 10.1100/2012/450685. Epub 2012 Dec 23.

An adaptive framework for selecting environmental monitoring protocols to support ocean renewable energy development

Emily J Shumchenia  1 , Sarah L Smith, Jennifer McCann, Michelle Carnevale, Grover Fugate, Robert D Kenney, John W King, Peter Paton, Malia Schwartz, Malcolm Spaulding, Kristopher J Winiarski
Affiliations

An adaptive framework for selecting environmental monitoring protocols to support ocean renewable energy development

Emily J Shumchenia et al. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012.

Abstract

Offshore renewable energy developments (OREDs) are projected to become common in the United States over the next two decades. There are both a need and an opportunity to guide efforts to identify and track impacts to the marine ecosystem resulting from these installations. A monitoring framework and standardized protocols that can be applied to multiple types of ORED would streamline scientific study, management, and permitting at these sites. We propose an adaptive and reactive framework based on indicators of the likely changes to the marine ecosystem due to ORED. We developed decision trees to identify suites of impacts at two scales (demonstration and commercial) depending on energy (wind, tidal, and wave), structure (e.g., turbine), and foundation type (e.g., monopile). Impacts were categorized by ecosystem component (benthic habitat and resources, fish and fisheries, avian species, marine mammals, and sea turtles) and monitoring objectives were developed for each. We present a case study at a commercial-scale wind farm and develop a monitoring plan for this development that addresses both local and national environmental concerns. In addition, framework has provided a starting point for identifying global research needs and objectives for understanding of the potential effects of ORED on the marine environment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proposed adaptive and reactive monitoring framework.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pie chart representing the proportion of impacts for each ecosystem component for Impact scenario i1, demonstration-scale projects, categorized by whether the effect is positive (blue), minor negative (green), moderate negative (yellow), or major negative (red). B = Benthic habitat and resources; F = Fish; Fs = Fisheries; A = Avian species; MT = Marine mammals and sea turtles.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pie chart representing the proportion of impacts for each ecosystem component for Impact scenario i2, wind turbine projects involving pile driving, categorized by whether the effect is positive (blue), minor negative (green), moderate negative (yellow), or major negative (red). B = Benthic habitat and resources; F = Fish; Fs = Fisheries; A = Avian species; MT = Marine mammals and sea turtles.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pie chart representing the proportion of impacts for each ecosystem component for Impact scenario i3, wind turbine project involving no pile driving, categorized by whether the effect is positive (blue), minor negative (green), moderate negative (yellow), or major negative (red). B = Benthic habitat and resources; F = Fish; Fs = Fisheries; A = Avian species; MT = Marine mammals and sea turtles.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Pie chart representing the proportion of impacts for each ecosystem component for Impact scenario i4, bottom-mounted tidal turbine projects, categorized by whether the effect is positive (blue), minor negative (green), moderate negative (yellow), or major negative (red). B = Benthic habitat and resources; F = Fish; Fs = Fisheries; A = Avian species; MT = Marine mammals and sea turtles.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Pie chart representing the proportion of impacts for each ecosystem component for Impact scenario i5, floating mooring tidal turbine projects, categorized by whether the effect is positive (blue), minor negative (green), moderate negative (yellow), or major negative (red). B = Benthic habitat and resources; F = Fish; Fs = Fisheries; A = Avian species; MT = Marine mammals and sea turtles.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Pie chart representing the proportion of impacts for each ecosystem component for Impact scenario i6, wave energy project, categorized by whether the effect is positive (blue), minor negative (green), moderate negative (yellow), or major negative (red). B = Benthic habitat and resources; F = Fish; Fs = Fisheries; A = Avian species; MT = Marine mammals and sea turtles.
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References

    1. Boehlert GW, Gill AB. Environmental and ecological effects of ocean renewable energy development. Oceanography. 2010;23(2):68–81.
    1. Inger R, Attrill MJ, Bearhop S, et al. Marine renewable energy: potential benefits to biodiversity? An urgent call for research. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2009;46(6):1145–1153.
    1. Gill AB. Offshore renewable energy: ecological implications of generating electricity in the coastal zone. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2005;42(4):605–615.
    1. ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) Report of the workshop on effects of offshore windfarms on marine benthos—facilitating a closer international collaboration throughout the North Atlantic region (WKEOMB); March 2012; Bremerhaven, Germany.
    1. BOEM (U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) BOEM Environmental Studies Program—Studies Development Plan FY, 2013-2015. Washington, DC, USA: U.S. Department of the Interior; 2012.

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