Tom Moriarty’s Post

While some may view NOAA Fisheries' strategic science plan as overdue, it's a positive and necessary step towards understanding the environmental implications of offshore wind development. The initiative acknowledges the complexities of the West Coast's deep waters and the need for innovative floating wind turbine platforms. The plan thoughtfully addresses six key research areas, recognizing the critical nature of habitats like upwelling zones and the potential effects of wind farm infrastructure on marine life. It's a forward-thinking approach that considers not just the immediate physical and physiological impacts, such as noise and electromagnetic fields, but also the broader changes in marine life abundance and distribution. NOAA's commitment to exploring the socioeconomic impacts on fisheries and communities reflects a deep understanding of the transformative nature of offshore wind development. The agency's efforts to study ecosystem and climate interactions demonstrate a conscientious approach to assessing the long-term and cumulative effects of wind farms. By incorporating innovative technologies like autonomous undersea gliders and prioritizing partnerships with West Coast tribes, NOAA is championing a collaborative and inclusive research ethos. This initiative is about more than just advancing offshore wind energy; it's about doing so responsibly and with a commitment to protecting our marine ecosystems and supporting the communities that rely on them. #OffshoreWind #RenewableEnergy #NOAAFisheries #EnvironmentalStewardship #SustainableDevelopment

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal dismissed this case on “technical grounds”, ruling that recent changes made by Ottawa to the Impact Assessment Act do not allow reconsideration of prior appeals. More #offshoreoilandgas drilling in #AtlanticCanada is a one-way ticket to #strandedassets and environmental despoliation - channel that #capex into #offshorewind #power! #nonewoil #timesupforfossils #decarbonization #netzero #offshoreenergy #oceanindustries Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) Canada's Ocean Supercluster Oceantic Network WORLD FORUM OFFSHORE WIND (WFO) Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Sierra Club Canada Foundation World Wildlife Fund Ecology Action Centre Ecojustice Canada

Examining the impact of decommissioned offshore structures A new study suggests that decommissioned offshore structures offer limited long-term ecological benefits if they are simply left in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs. FIND OUT MORE: https://lnkd.in/eRawnM5v #Decommissioning #OffshoreOilandGas #OilandGasNews #ArtificialReefs #OilandGasJobs

Examining the impact of decommissioned offshore structures   A new study suggests that decommissioned offshore structures offer limited long-term ecological benefits if they are simply left in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs. 🔽 Find more info in comments below 🔽 #Decommissioning #OffshoreOilandGas #OilandGasNews #ArtificialReefs #OilandGasJobs ⤵️ Click Follow on our page to keep up to date with energy news ⤵️

As Italy moves towards the adoption of renewable energy sources, offshore wind energy emerges as a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions. However, this push has raised concerns among fishing and aquaculture stakeholders. The installation of wind farms in coastal waters, while beneficial for energy production, raises questions about the long-term sustainability of marine ecosystems and the future of Italy’s fishing sector. The concern is not new. Countries like Spain have already faced strong opposition from their fishing industries to the expansion of offshore wind projects. Fishermen warn of potential disruptions to marine habitats, with significant impacts on fish populations and biodiversity. At the heart of the issue is how these structures could alter sea currents, noise levels and migration paths, leading to unforeseen consequences for both the ecosystem and the local fishing economy. #BlueEconomy #bluetransformation

I am happy to anounce that our new publication is now available online. Multi-use offshore farms have the potential to address marine space limitations and stimulate collaborations and new economic opportunities. However, its environmental impacts are not yet well understood. This study aims to quantify the potential environmental impacts a multi-use offshore farm, which combines an offshore wind farm and a mussel farm, by performing a Life Cycle Assessment. This research forms part of the SUMES project. Thanks very much to all the co-authors. This work would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions of Bilge Baş Sue Ellen Taelman Sander van den Burg Jo Dewulf. #Sustainability #BlueEconomy #Multiuse #LifeCycleAssessment

𝗨𝗦 𝗳𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries have released a final joint strategy to protect and promote the recovery of endangered North Atlantic right whales while developing #offshorewindenergy. North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction and approximately 360 individuals are remaining, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females, the agencies said. “𝘙𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 – 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 – 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵,” said Janet Coit, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator. The draft strategy, issued in 2022, was developed to support the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW of #offshorewind by 2030. Read the full article via the link below. #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #OffshoreWind #OffshoreWindEnergy #WindEnergy #WindPower

NYSDEC released a proposed Endangered and Threatened Species Mitigation Bank Fund regulation to help offset negative impacts to endangered and threatened species populations during the construction of renewable energy and energy transmission projects. https://lnkd.in/eHVP4cRv #endangeredspecies #renewableenergy #regulation #mitigationbank #nysdec

A new study suggests that decommissioned offshore structures offer limited long-term ecological benefits if they are simply left in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs. Researchers carried out a comprehensive analysis of existing studies on the environmental impacts of marine offshore structures – including oil and gas platforms and offshore wind farms – worldwide. It highlighted that such installations could offer some ecological benefits – including increasing the diversity and abundance of fish species – in areas where the seafloor is mostly comprised of sand. However, there was limited conclusive evidence that oil and gas platforms and offshore wind farms could provide further substantial benefits if they are left in the sea after being decommissioned. #OffshoreStructures #OceanEnergy #OffshoreWindFarms #Sustainability Click the link below to discover more ⬇ https://bit.ly/3TOalBt

Can we build a future with #solar, #nature, and communities? We can, and we must. Catrin Einhorn writes for the The New York Times how the development of renewable energy (especially solar) is happening in cooperation with conservation-minded landowners, wildlife agencies, and energy developers. The bottom line is this: solar farms require more land per unit of #energy than oil, gas, and wind. When we move beyond compensatory mitigation and into voluntary stewardship, landowners, wildlife agencies, and project developers can get creative with siting, fencing, #habitatrestoration, and maintenance practices that are good for business, wildlife, our climate, and adjacent communities. Thanks to Catrin Einhorn for detailing how this is better kind of #renewableenergy mitigation and development is working in Wyoming, Florida, and Appalachia. We need more landowners willing to support thoughtful and careful energy development, smarter and more efficient policies and ways to get to "yes" from our natural resource agencies and regulators, strong science from our NGO and academic communities, flexible capital from investors, and project developers with integrity and creativity. #conservation #wildlife #renewableenergy #mitigation