As the offshore wind industry continues to grow domestically and internationally, vessel strike risk management is of increasing concern to offshore wind operators and managers. Marine mammals are at considerable risk of vessel strike due to their large size, surface-feeding behavior, and extensive migrations. Avoiding strikes is key for vessel operators and managers, not only because many marine mammals are protected species, but also because vessel strikes impede offshore wind operations.

Marine mammal scientists Tara Stevens and Mary Jo Barkaszi have been developing a model for offshore wind vessel operations that assesses vessel strike risk. The model uses large whale species that inhabit U.S. outer continental shelf waters as a proxy for global applications, which Ms. Stevens and Ms. Barkaszi are presenting at the 25^th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Perth, Australia.

The model will be the focus of a full-day workshop as part of a workshop series prior to the conference kickoff. The workshop mixes presentations and hands-on model testing and is supported by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which provided input and funding for model development. At the “Navigating Safe Waters: Unveiling a Novel Risk Assessment Tool for Vessel Operations Impacting Marine Mammals” workshop, attendees will be able to provide input on this end-stage model. The model will be publicly available once published, with the intent to be used both in the U.S. and globally for all manner of ocean-based projects and operations.

Workshop attendees will be fully integrated into model testing and discussions regarding model use. The workshop will consist of standard conference presentations, round-table discussions, and model testing for maximal attendee engagement and involvement. Attendees to the conference and workshop span the globe and bring a broad background of subdisciplines, from genomics to commercial fishing interactions. This workshop will ensure that the finalized model meets the data input requirements and model outputs needed for end users.

To find out more about CSA’s offshore services, visit: https://www.csaocean.com/services/marine-sciences/ocean-sound-marine-life