| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Could windfarm projects cause Norfolk mussel population to die of stress?
Credit: Eleanor Pringle | Eastern Daily Press | 12 July 2019 | www.edp24.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
New research has suggested that Norfolk’s famous mussel population could be at risk if precautions aren’t taken to limit noise from the creation of offshore wind farms.
Marine scientists from Edinburgh’s Napier and Heriot Watt universities have discovered that the molluscs can detect changing sound levels in their environment.
The research showed that increased levels of noise impacts the shellfish’s DNA, meaning it grows slower and spends more time filtering algae – making it more vulnerable to predators.
And with plans submitted by energy giants Vattenfall and Orsted to create two of the largest wind farms in the country off the north Norfolk coast, noise pollution while they are constructed will inevitably rise.
Thomas Large, from Brancaster, is the seventh generation of his family to fish for shellfish.
Mr Large has been running Brancaster Bay Shellfish since he left school 30 years ago, and says that wind turbines are already having a minor effect on mussels.
“There are two different types of mussels we fish for, sub-literal and inter-tidal. Sub literal shellfish are the ones which are further out to sea and inter-tidal are those which we find on the mudflats, for example,” he said.
“We are seeing fewer outcrops of sub-literal mussels because the wind turbines are quite wide at the base, and so when they go in they do disturb the environment. But 99pc of what we fish is inter-tidal so it doesn’t make a huge difference.”
Mr Large added that although research suggests noise pollution from passing ships was not “immediately dangerous”, he did not believe it would make any difference at all.
“Mussels don’t have ears,” he said. “I can’t really see why they would be affected by noise so I doubt anything will change in the next five years, or even a decade.”
Katherine Wood, Vattenfall’s head of consenting (Offshore), said: “Mussels are one of the species that have been considered in our detailed assessment work which indicates that they are not a species impacted by the project. No mussel beds were found within the survey areas for Norfolk Boreas or Vanguard. They thrive in habitats quite different to those that exist in the deeper water, tens of kilometres offshore, where the wind farms would be built.
“Measures to reduce noise pollution are proposed for both projects, and will be agreed with the regulators before the start of construction. The projects will also look to minimise the number of vessel movements during construction and operation.”
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=93499 ]
