OES-Environmental distributes metadata forms (questionnaires) to solicit information from researchers around the world who are exploring the environmental effects of marine renewable energy. This page provides a description and contact information related to the research. Content is updated on an annual basis.

Marine Fish Response to Pile Driving Sound

Status

Completed

Principle Investigator Contact Information

Name: Frank Thomsen

Email: frank.thomsen@cefas.co.uk

Description

Pile-driving noise during construction is of particular concern as the very high sound pressure levels could potentially prevent fish from reaching breeding or spawning sites, finding food, and acoustically locating mates. This could result in long- term effects on reproduction and population parameters. Further, avoidance reactions might result in displacement away from potential fishing grounds and lead to reduced catches. Pile-driving noise was played to cod and sole held in two large (40 m) net pens located in a quiet Bay in West Scotland. Movements of the fish were analysed using a novel acoustic tracking system. Received sound pressure level and particle motion were measured during the experiments.

Funding Source

Collaborative Offshore Wind Research into the Environment (COWRIE)

Location of Research

Ardtoe, Ardnamurchan, West Scotland.

Project Aims

  1. Understand the effects of pile-driving sound sources on the behaviour of marine fish;
  2. Identify the threshold of exposure that lead to behavioural responses;
  3. Define the characteristics, scale and duration of responses as a function of exposure conditions; and
  4. Interpret the results with regard to pile-driving operations in the marine environment

Study Progress

Project completed.

Key Findings

  1. Interpret the results with regard to pile-driving operations in the marine environment.
  2. Not a single threshold but range over which behavioural response occurs; cod = 140-161 dB re 1µPa peak; sole = 144-156 dB re 1µPa peak, particle motion between 6.51x10-3 and 8.62 x10-4 m/s2 peak.
  3. Cod = tendency for higher swimming speed, significant freezing response, documented initial avoidance; Sole = significant increase in swimming speed, and initial avoidance.
  4. Reduction of uncertainty about behavioural reaction of marine fish to pile-driving sound; Incorporation of results of this study into offshore wind farm EIAs; further development of mitigation measures.

Related Publications

Effects of Pile-Driving Noise on the Behaviour of Marine Fish