Offshore Wind Power Projects in the Great Lakes - Ministry of ...

Offshore wind power projects in the Great Lakes: Background and science considerations for fish and fish habitat
examined following appropriate scientific protocols, and that proper replication is ensured
(Popper & Hastings 2009).
While laboratory studies can identify which Great Lakes species are most likely to interact with
EMFs, mesocosm experiments similar to those described in Gill et al. (2005) might be useful in
order to visually observe the behavioural reaction of fish to EMFs within a partially controlled
setting. In these experiments electrosensitive local fish species were held in field enclosures
where they were exposed to typical cable-strength EMFs. Using implanted acoustic transmitters
the movement of each fish was closely monitored and tracked, and then analyzed to determine
whether the fish elicited a directional response to the simulated EMFs. In addition, specially
designed field surveys such as those employed to assess fish behaviour in response to the power
cable at Nysted (Kjaer et al. 2006) could also be a useful study model to adapt within the Great
Lakes. Investigators there placed multi-directional fyke nets on either side of the submarine
power cable in order to detect the migration direction of fish, and to estimate the number and
identity of fish crossing the cable. Another interesting aspect of the survey of cable effects on
fish at Nysted included a mark and recapture study for common eel in order to investigate the
potential impact of the cable on the migration direction of this known EMF-sensitive migrant
(Kjaer et al. 2006). Similar studies on American eel in the Great Lakes would be highly
informative, and an option is to include impact monitoring for those offshore wind power
projects with cabling installed in the vicinity of migration corridors.
Where generic laboratory or mesocosm studies will be necessary to understand the effects of
specific activities on the behaviour and physiology of representative Great Lakes taxa, an
understanding of the gross effects of various phases of wind power project development on local
fish and fish habitat may be best achieved by initiating pilot or demonstration projects of varying
scales and submitting them to extensive effects monitoring (see Table 4). Individual research
platforms such as those deployed in Germany can provide valuable information on the
colonization rates or local scour processes associated with different foundation designs or
materials. In addition, noise measurements can be made during the installation of these
individual foundations to provide a basis for noise attenuation models and predictions of the area
of impact during pile driving activities, or to test the efficacy of various noise mitigation
Aquatic Research and Development Section 94