User:Treelover50/Ocean Wind

Impact on Marine Life and Fisheries

The long-term effects that offshore wind farms have on marine ecosystems are still widely unknown. A lot of research has been done focusing on the short-term effects, but very little research has focused on the lasting effects. Some short-term effects include how various marine species respond to noise during the construction process of offshore wind farms. During the construction process, the wind turbine foundations are secured to the ocean floor through the method of pile driving. Pile driving can be harmful because it produces a lot of noise that can affect the surrounding marine species hearing and communication. Some marine life can end up losing their hearing altogether. The increased noise levels associated with the construction of offshore wind farms pose a hazard to many marine species and will continue to do so until more sustainable methods are utilized. Soon we are expected to see the use of more floating foundations. Floating foundations can eliminate a lot of the noise associated with pile driving and cause less damage to marine ecosystems overall. Other species significantly impacted by offshore wind farm construction are seabirds. Wind turbines cause an enormous hazard for seabirds because of the potential for collisions. These wind farms can also disrupt many bird species' migration patterns as well. Even though offshore wind farms can negatively affect many species they can also benefit many species as well. A benefit of these wind farms is that they create protected areas by default. This can aid in many species recovery especially if they are built in areas that were once used for fishing. It is very difficult to determine an ecosystem's response to the installation of an offshore wind farm because each marine ecosystem is so individualized and unique. Even though it is difficult to predict the long-term effects there are still many ways that researchers can obtain information to reduce many of the negative effects that marine species face. The first is the noise associated with the construction needs to be calculated and assessed more efficiently before future installation because many of the negative effects that marine species face can be significantly decreased if properly assessed. The second is that additional studies need to be performed to understand the area’s most vulnerable to offshore wind farm installation. If researchers can study the areas and species most vulnerable to increased noise levels, then they can get a better understanding of areas with the least vulnerable species. By doing this researchers would be able to mitigate many of the negative effects that offshore wind farms have on marine ecosystems.

Fisheries can be greatly affected by offshore wind farms if they are constructed in high-priority fishing areas. Once offshore wind farms are built the area surrounding the wind farm essentially becomes a protected area where fisherman and boats cannot go. Many fishermen can become displaced from their previous fishing areas, therefore, needing to find new areas to fish. If the new areas do not yield as many fish or as much profit then the fisherman's businesses can slowly decline, affecting the industry greatly. When fishermen have to find new areas to fish many ecosystems can be affected by this shift because a significant amount of marine life is being taken out of an area that it wasn't before. Some businesses can recover from making this shift if they have the resources, but other small businesses have a much harder time adapting.

Pros and Cons of Ocean Wind

Image of an offshore wind farm

There are many pros and cons when it comes to the issues surrounding offshore wind farms. Some of the issues include environmental effects, economic impacts, and social effects. These are the three most significant factors affecting offshore wind farm production and there are various pros and cons associated with each of them. The first issue is the environmental effects. The largest advantage of offshore wind farms is that they produce renewable energy which is beneficial for the environment. They can also aid in the recovery of many marine ecosystems if they are built in areas that were previously used for fishing. The disadvantages are that the wind turbines can produce a lot of noise which can affect marine species hearing and communication. They also pose a hazard for seabirds because of increased collisions. The second issue is the economic impact. The cost of installing offshore wind farms is very dependent on if the economy is growing or not. If the economy is growing then the cost goes down, but if the economy is not growing then the cost goes up. The advantages are that if the economy is doing well then, the cost of installation for offshore wind farms can be relatively inexpensive, and more progress can continue in the development of wind farms. The disadvantages are that if the economy is in a recession, then many of these projects may be halted because the cost of materials and installation increases, which increases the use of nonrenewable forms of energy. The third issue is the social impact. It is very important to consider what the community wants when it comes to the approval of many of these projects. The advantages are that offshore wind farms can decrease energy costs and mitigate many of the negative health effects associated with fossil fuel use. The disadvantages are that offshore wind farms can be loud and not visually appealing. Many people want to experience the positive effects of offshore wind farms but not be able to hear or see them. Offshore wind farm production is a very complex issue with many advantages and disadvantages associated with it.