“As of now, there is no to support speculation that noise resulting from wind development-related site characterisation surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales, and no specific links between recent large whale mortalities and currently ongoing surveys.”
This is from an published by the US Department of Energy (DOE) on 28 April regarding “misinformation” about offshore wind power and recent whale deaths.
“Past and current research show that vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear continue to pose a dangerous, life-threatening risk to whales,” the DOE added.
Over the past few months a highly publicised dispute has erupted between residents, fishermen and local politicians over the killing of about a dozen whales off the north-eastern US, including calls for hearings in Washington DC.
Surveying for offshore wind farms is underway in the region, off New Jersey and New York.
A federal wildlife expert has previously said that for the past several years whales have been swimming closer to shore to catch their prey, perhaps because of changing water temperatures caused by climate change.
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