The offshore wind industry is subject to strict rules designed to protect marine mammals, environments, and other protected species. Key activities such as surveys, construction, and operations are reviewed by multiple government agencies and subject to restrictions including vessel speed limits, seasonal construction windows, and mandatory protected species observers (PSOs), in addition to other specialized technology.
Federal regulations require survey vessels to carry multiple trained observers to watch for whales and other marine life. These observers have the authority to halt operations if protected species are observed within a designated safety zone. Additionally, the acoustic tools used for offshore wind projects are significantly less intense than similar tools used for oil and gas exploration and do not disturb whales or other ocean mammals.
Beyond applying strong mitigation measures, the offshore wind industry is also advancing new data efforts that aid in marine mammal conservation efforts. Companies are investing in novel technologies to observe, identify, and track marine mammals, including recording and analyzing whale vocalizations.
New demand for commercial-scale solutions to ocean data challenges is driving the growth of companies that historically operated in adjacent sectors such as the defense industry, among others. New contracts from offshore wind projects are creating an influx of private investment and advanced tools, significantly enhancing the ability to gather critical ocean data, and aiding in the development of better mitigation strategies for marine life protection.