The Scientific Validity of Criticisms made by the RSPB of Metrics used to Assess Population Level Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms on Seabirds

Cook, A.; Robinson, R. (2015). The Scientific Validity of Criticisms made by the RSPB of Metrics used to Assess Population Level Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms on Seabirds (Report No. 665). Report by British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Report for Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

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Abstract

The purpose of this report is to consider the validity of criticisms that have been made by the RSPB on the use of risk-based metrics to assess the response of seabird populations to impacts from offshore wind farms. Following the project start-up meeting on 3rd December 2014, it was agreed that this consideration should also include approaches that have been used to set thresholds of additional mortality including Potential Biological Removal (PBR), Acceptable Biological Change (ABC) and reduced uncertainty Acceptable Biological Change (ruABC).