Pile driving sound induces short-term behavioral changes in black sea bass (<i>Centropristis striata</i>): A field study

Offshore wind represents a renewable energy alternative as countries seek to limit the climate-altering effects of fossil fuels. The global investment in wind energy has generated substantial concern, as turbine construction emits high-intensity sounds and the associated impacts on marine fauna remain largely unknown. This in situ experimental study quantified behavioral changes of commercially important black sea bass (Centropristis striata) to nearshore pile driving using video observation. Behavior of caged black sea bass was characterized at near and far sites before and during repeated bouts of two contrasting pile driving techniques: impact and vibratory hammering (VH), over two consecutive days. At impact hammer onset, animals at both sites reduced swimming in midwater, switching to bottom-associated freezing behaviors consistent with heightened alertness. Yet they returned to pre-exposure states during VH and later impact hammer sequences, even at close sites with the highest peak-to-peak sound pressure levels (203-213 dB re 1μPa). Behavioral changes were more persistent at the near site, but neither distance elicited significant behavioral changes on the second day of exposure. The results indicate that black sea bass behavior may be initially altered by impact hammer sound, but these effects are short-lived and do not continue through multiple exposures or consecutive days.