Conservation and Science

The topic we are taking on today is another hotly contested one - offshore renewables. It’s a somewhat codified name for massive wind farms built at sea. They are of course a part of our effort to urgently needed transition from using fossil fuels. Some argue that offshore wind farms are the best thing ever, sparing land (for wildlife, agriculture or otherwise) while taking advantage of strong and unimpeded winds at sea. Others lament them for, both known and unknown, impacts on marine wildlife as well as the disfiguration of marine landscape, especially in the places where they are visible from shore.

Among the most worrisome side effects of the offshore wind farm is the noise. Not only the constant underwater hum that might be preset while the farm operates but more importantly, the huge noise pollution while building it. As you might know, noise pollution of the marine environment has huge negative, deadly even, effects on cetaceans. As creatures that use sound as their primary sense, they are especially vulnerable to the loud noises emitted while, for example, driving steel piles into the ocean floor.

To discuss this difficult topic, I invited marine ecologist Dr Stephen Comerford who has vast experience working with industry worldwide to mitigate the effects of underwater noise on whales, dolphins and porpoises. Currently, Stephen is an ORE Marine Biodiversity Officer at Irish Whale and Dolphin Group to help them develop policies concerning Offshore Renewable Energy.

Offshore Wind and Marine Mammals with Stephen Comerford

Are offshore wind farms detrimental to marine mammals? What happens when we industrialise our seas with massive turbines? Can we balance the urgent need for renewable energy with protecting marine life? These questions take centre stage in our conversation with marine ecologist Dr Stephen Comerford, who is the ORE Marine Biodiversity Officer at the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. Stephen has years of experience working with both the oil and gas industry and offshore renewables, which makes him the perfect guest to discuss this important topic.

In this episode, we discuss the critical issue of underwater noise during wind farm construction. Stephen explains how pile driving - the process of hammering massive steel tubes into the seabed - creates intense underwater noise that can harm marine mammals. However, there's hope in the form of various noise reduction technologies, from bubble curtains to innovative pile installation methods, though implementing these solutions comes with significant costs and technical challenges.

Looking to the future, Stephen shares his perspective on how offshore structures might create novel marine ecosystems and discusses the crucial role of citizen science in monitoring marine mammals. While acknowledging the environmental pressures our seas face, he highlights how Ireland's new focus on marine planning and management, driven by offshore wind development, could lead to better protection of our oceans. The episode offers a balanced view of how we can pursue essential renewable energy goals while safeguarding marine life.

196: Offshore Wind and Marine Mammals with Stephen Comerford

Bender Banter with Leddy

I switched roles and sat in the guest chair on the Bender Banter podcast for a chat about wildlife conservation. I had a great time chatting with Leddy about the challenges of turning scientific data into effective wildlife policies and the political difficulties that often undermine evidence-based management. We discussed topics like wolf reintroduction in Colorado and compared European and American approaches to predator management. Of course, I mentioned Estonia's collaborative model where sheep farmers joined wolf conservation efforts to avoid societal division, contrasting it with more polarised approaches elsewhere.

Later we talked about communication between different groups with competing interests in conservation. Hunters have failed to tell compelling emotional stories about their connection to nature and wildlife, instead relying too heavily on scientific data that doesn't resonate with the public. I will be making this point over and over again until we see change. I shared my experience of finding common ground with an anti-hunting advocate by focusing first on our shared values rather than their differences. Our conversation is for anyone interested in conservation, hunting ethics, and how to have productive dialogues across ideological divides in our increasingly polarised world.

So, a big thank you to Leddy for the invitation and a wonderful chat.

Ep. 83 | The Science of Conservation

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