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Norway ups whale kill numbers and removes whale welfare protections

The whaling season in Norway has begun on the back of disturbing announcements from the...
Image taken from an unmanned hexacopter at >100ft during a research collaboration between NOAA/SWFSC, SR3 and the Coastal Ocean Research Institute. Research authorized by NMFS permit #19091.

Southern Resident orca petition to list them under Oregon Endangered Species Act advanced

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect...
Hysazu Photography

WDC and Conservation Partners Continue to Seek Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas

On Friday, April 21st, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will determine whether the petition...
WDC Seal Rescue April 2023 (1)

WDC conducts milestone seal rescue in Marshfield

For Immediate Release, April 10, 2023 MARSHFIELD, MA - A young grey seal was found...

Scottish windfarms decision bad for marine mammals

WDC are supportive of efforts to reduce climate impacts and move away from the use of fossil fuels. However, the decision by Scottish Ministers today to consent these four offshore wind farms off the Forth and Tay on the east coast of Scotland will drive another nail in the coffin of the local harbour seal population.

The rapidly declining harbour seal population at the Firth of Tay & Eden Estuary SAC is predicted to become locally extinct in less than 10 years. They are part of a bigger national population whose status is ‘Unfavourable – Inadequate’. The dramatic decline of this population and the failure of the Scottish Government to maintain the population at favourable conservation status is a continuing breach of European environmental legislation. The Scottish Government does not have a clear strategy to reverse this decline. Yet it has now consented four wind farm developments that are likely to speed up this decline towards extinction with the increased use of vessels with ducted propellers in the region, a local hot spot for seal deaths by propeller cuts.

It has been calculated that there will also be an impact on the Moray Firth bottlenose dolphin population during the construction period, with an assumed recovery of the population over a 25 year modelled period. However, there is no certainty that the effects of construction over a period of five years on the bottlenose dolphin population can be recovered.

The consents are granted subject to conditions which are aimed to mitigate and monitor a range of potential impacts to marine mammals, as well as birds and other environmental considerations. However, robust mitigation measures look unlikely as government mitigation policy on two key impacts, both corkscrew injuries for seals and pile driving for all marine mammals, is weak and inadequate.

Only sufficient monitoring will assist in addressing current gaps in knowledge of impacts, documenting any population declines and ultimately determining whether mitigation measures are effective.

Once completed, the developments in the Forth and Tay region will consist of Neart Na Gaoithe (up to 75 turbines), Inch Cape Offshore Limited (110 turbines), Seagreen Alpha and Seagreen Bravo (up to 150 turbines combined).

The Forth and Tay offshore wind farm consents are available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Licensing/marine/scoping