Following on from our growing collection of published papers in 2023 and 2024, we are excited to announce that the second (of many!) OSC publications of 2025 has arrived!
Building on our previous research of harbour porpoise and their interactions with offshore structures, we are continuing to advance understanding of the link that platforms and construction in offshore environments have with wider marine ecosystems, their interconnectivity, and the implications of these impacts.
With Dr Victoria Todd leading data curation, contributing to review and editing, and utilising C-PODS and hydrophone systems provided by OSC, this study applied both iPCoD and DEPONS population impact modelling frameworks to a single Offshore Wind Farm (OWF). The impact of pin-piling on the North Sea harbour porpoise population was assessed and results were evaluated in the wider context of cumulative impacts and current UK regulations and management frameworks.
Whilst this study found that there was no impact to harbour porpoise population trends in this particular case, it emphasised the continued requirement for studies such as this, along with long-term data modelling due to the complexity of the issues surrounding underwater sound generation. The often-overlapping timelines and geographical areas of large-scale offshore projects pose significant challenges to cetaceans, along with the mounting pressures they continue to face from commercial fishing, increased shipping and vessel traffic, and pollution.
To read the full paper, and find out more about this topic, the full publication can be accessed free of charge here.
