Offshore Wind Projects Grossly Underestimate Harm to Marine Mammals, Challenges NOAA to “Prove Us Wrong” with a Focused Monitoring Program

  Save Long Beach Island, Inc. (Save LBI), a grassroots organization focused on energy policies and ocean conservation, has raised alarms about offshore wind projects. They argue that these projects underestimate the impact of noise pollution on marine mammals, particularly whales and dolphins.

1. Noise Pollution Concerns: Save LBI claims that noise from offshore wind activities can harm marine mammals by impairing their hearing and affecting their navigation during migration.

2. NOAA's Stance: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has maintained that there is no direct evidence of harm to marine mammals from wind energy activities, prompting Save LBI to challenge this position.

3. Actions Taken:

• In November, Save LBI filed a petition with the U. S. Department of Commerce and NOAA to revise outdated methods used to estimate the harm (referred to as "Takes") to marine mammals due to wind projects.

• They submitted comments on monitoring standards proposed by NOAA, emphasizing flaws in the methodologies.

4. Petition Highlights: The petition outlines significant scientific errors in NOAA’s assessment methods and presents calculations showing potential harm to marine life from wind projects.

5. Required Monitoring: Save LBI is asking for a monitoring program from NOAA to verify or disprove claims about marine mammal impacts, focusing on a variety of factors such as:

• Effectiveness of noise reduction methods like bubble curtains.

• Accurate noise exposure modeling for construction and operational activities.

• To quantify permanent hearing loss risks from noise exposure.

6. Concerns About Migration: They want to ensure that the migration paths of endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale are not obstructed by noise pollution from wind farms.

7. Call for Accurate Data: Save LBI stresses the importance of accurately measuring noise levels to protect marine mammals, arguing that underestimating noise could lead to severe consequences.

Save LBI's petition calls for a reassessment of how offshore wind projects are monitored regarding their impact on marine mammals. They emphasize the need for scientifically sound and transparent methods to ensure the safety and health of ocean wildlife amidst the growing push for renewable energy. This initiative seeks to balance energy development with ecological protection.

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2026/01/06/save-lbi-says-offshore-wind-projects-grossly-underestimate-harm-to-marine-mammals-challenges-noaa-to-prove-us-wrong-with-a-focused-monitoring-program/