Underwater Noise Conflict Resolution: Framework Report

TY - RPRT
TI - Underwater Noise Conflict Resolution: Framework Report
AU - Xodus Group
AB - The Southern North Sea (SNS) Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is designated to protect the habitat for harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). However, with increasing activity in region, there is a growing risk that underwater noise (UWN) exceeds levels which are congruent with ensuring Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) of harbour porpoise in the SNS SAC. FCS requires that the long-term viability of the harbour population be maintained: this involves ensuring that the habitat integrity and the species’ resilience are sufficient to maintain a stable or growing population. Recognising the lack of a clear, coordinated framework to manage and avoid exceedances, there is an urgent requirement for a robust coordination and decision-making pathway to be established to manage potential scheduling conflicts and prevent breaches.BackgroundRestrictions within the SNS SAC prohibit disturbance caused by underwater noise – principally focused on high-amplitude impulsive noise sources. This includes activities including percussive (impact) piling, Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) disposal, geophysical surveys, and seismic surveys.Harbour porpoise are a European Protected Species (EPS) listed in Annex II of the European Union (EU) Council Directive 92/43/EEC (‘the Habitats Directive’).Restrictions within the SNS SAC prohibit disturbance arising from UWN which exclude harbour porpoise from more than 20% of the SAC’s area per day and/or an average of 10% of the SAC’s area over a given season. These restrictions apply to both the individual and in-combination effects of ongoing and planned projects.The region is exposed to high levels of offshore activity involving multiple sectors, including Offshore Wind (OSW), Offshore Oil and Gas (OOG) and, more recently, Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).With several large offshore wind farms planned within the SNS SAC to support the UK's Clean Power 2030 plans, and with OSW, OOG and CCS critical for energy security and meeting Net Zero targets by 2050, a coordinated approach is essential to prevent project delays and UWN disturbance threshold breaches.To establish a coordination process, the Development Coordination Forum (DCF) was established in 2023. The DCF, consisting of project Operators, Developers, Regulators, and Government bodies, was continued and further developed in 2024.The DCF is supported by the industry-established Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) process.This project was conducted concurrently to the 2024 SNS SAC summer campaign season. Valuable lessons garnered throughout the Summer 2024 period have been incorporated into this work.Scope of Work Xodus was contracted by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), through RenewableUK, to support the OWIC Pathways to Growth initiative in identifying frameworks for coordination and conflict resolution to avoid or manage UWN disturbance threshold conflicts. The objectives of this report were to:Identify and outline recommendations for improved coordination based on stakeholder input;Provide pathway suggestions for addressing unavoidable conflict in a workable, robust manner; andProvide actionable next steps in the pursuit of implementing an underwater noise management framework.This report aims to identify the current limitations in managing UWN disturbance thresholds in the SNS SAC, focusing on coordination and conflict resolution. It suggests solutions based on evidence, Stakeholder feedback, expert opinion, and valuable lessons garnered throughout the summer campaign and the project timeline. The recommendations provide a framework for practical, workable solutions, rather than detailing specific roles. or actions.These recommendations will be taken forward by OWIC for further discussion with all relevant stakeholders.RecommendationsFeedback gathered from industry stakeholders demonstrates that the current system for managing UWN disturbance threshold limits in the SNS SAC is inadequate for ecological and operational needs, necessitating bold action and reform. The challenge lies in balancing flexibility across various potential scenarios, without the pathway becoming excessively complex.This project was conducted concurrently to the 2024 SNS SAC summer campaign season. Consequently, some recommendations provided in this report – particularly suggestions for improving coordination to reduce likelihood of conflict scenarios – may already be under consideration, or be in the process of being implemented to some degree.While Xodus cannot make final decisions on these reforms, the findings from the study have resulted in a set of recommendations as summarised in Table 1-1. These recommendations aim to support, expand-up, or otherwise complement the existing coordination efforts currently being undertaken.
CY - London, England
DA - 2025/04//
PY - 2025
SP - 85
UR - https://www.owic.org.uk/resources/underwater-noise-conflict-resolution-framework-report/
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Noise
KW - Marine Mammals
KW - Cetaceans
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Legal & Policy
ER -

Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

The Southern North Sea (SNS) Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is designated to protect the habitat for harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). However, with increasing activity in region, there is a growing risk that underwater noise (UWN) exceeds levels which are congruent with ensuring Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) of harbour porpoise in the SNS SAC. FCS requires that the long-term viability of the harbour population be maintained: this involves ensuring that the habitat integrity and the species’ resilience are sufficient to maintain a stable or growing population. Recognising the lack of a clear, coordinated framework to manage and avoid exceedances, there is an urgent requirement for a robust coordination and decision-making pathway to be established to manage potential scheduling conflicts and prevent breaches.

Background

Restrictions within the SNS SAC prohibit disturbance caused by underwater noise – principally focused on high-amplitude impulsive noise sources. This includes activities including percussive (impact) piling, Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) disposal, geophysical surveys, and seismic surveys.
Harbour porpoise are a European Protected Species (EPS) listed in Annex II of the European Union (EU) Council Directive 92/43/EEC (‘the Habitats Directive’).
Restrictions within the SNS SAC prohibit disturbance arising from UWN which exclude harbour porpoise from more than 20% of the SAC’s area per day and/or an average of 10% of the SAC’s area over a given season. These restrictions apply to both the individual and in-combination effects of ongoing and planned projects.
The region is exposed to high levels of offshore activity involving multiple sectors, including Offshore Wind (OSW), Offshore Oil and Gas (OOG) and, more recently, Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).
With several large offshore wind farms planned within the SNS SAC to support the UK's Clean Power 2030 plans, and with OSW, OOG and CCS critical for energy security and meeting Net Zero targets by 2050, a coordinated approach is essential to prevent project delays and UWN disturbance threshold breaches.
To establish a coordination process, the Development Coordination Forum (DCF) was established in 2023. The DCF, consisting of project Operators, Developers, Regulators, and Government bodies, was continued and further developed in 2024.
The DCF is supported by the industry-established Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) process.
This project was conducted concurrently to the 2024 SNS SAC summer campaign season. Valuable lessons garnered throughout the Summer 2024 period have been incorporated into this work.

Scope of Work

Xodus was contracted by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), through RenewableUK, to support the OWIC Pathways to Growth initiative in identifying frameworks for coordination and conflict resolution to avoid or manage UWN disturbance threshold conflicts. The objectives of this report were to:

Identify and outline recommendations for improved coordination based on stakeholder input;
Provide pathway suggestions for addressing unavoidable conflict in a workable, robust manner; and
Provide actionable next steps in the pursuit of implementing an underwater noise management framework.

This report aims to identify the current limitations in managing UWN disturbance thresholds in the SNS SAC, focusing on coordination and conflict resolution. It suggests solutions based on evidence, Stakeholder feedback, expert opinion, and valuable lessons garnered throughout the summer campaign and the project timeline. The recommendations provide a framework for practical, workable solutions, rather than detailing specific roles. or actions.

These recommendations will be taken forward by OWIC for further discussion with all relevant stakeholders.

Recommendations

Feedback gathered from industry stakeholders demonstrates that the current system for managing UWN disturbance threshold limits in the SNS SAC is inadequate for ecological and operational needs, necessitating bold action and reform. The challenge lies in balancing flexibility across various potential scenarios, without the pathway becoming excessively complex.

This project was conducted concurrently to the 2024 SNS SAC summer campaign season. Consequently, some recommendations provided in this report – particularly suggestions for improving coordination to reduce likelihood of conflict scenarios – may already be under consideration, or be in the process of being implemented to some degree.

While Xodus cannot make final decisions on these reforms, the findings from the study have resulted in a set of recommendations as summarised in Table 1-1. These recommendations aim to support, expand-up, or otherwise complement the existing coordination efforts currently being undertaken.