Synthesis of Technology Gaps and Research Priorities in Offshore Wind Developments for Monitoring Birds and Marine Mammals

Abstract As offshore wind (OSW) energy expands, concerns arise about its potential impacts on wildlife, particularly birds and marine mammals. Addressing these concerns requires effective monitoring systems that can be seamlessly integrated into OSW operations. Given the complexity of collecting robust, statistically sound data in offshore environments, this is a significant challenge. This study identifies critical technology gaps and research priorities to improve wildlife monitoring for fixed and floating OSW facilities in the United States. The research involved engaging over 40 experts in marine mammalogy, ornithology, OSW development, and technology, conducting a comprehensive literature review, and creating a technology database. Key priorities for advancing monitoring systems include enhanced communication protocols, standardized monitoring frameworks, reliable power sources, improved remote data transfer, and automated data collection and analysis advancements. These advancements aim to enhance data reliability while minimizing operational disruptions and risks to worker safety in offshore environments. The study's findings show distinct requirements for monitoring different species. Bird monitoring systems often necessitate integration with OSW infrastructure, while marine mammal monitoring systems typically function independently. The research highlights six main categories of monitoring technologies: acoustic sensors, visual sensors, satellite and radio tags, software, data integration/optimization tools, and emerging technologies. The resulting database catalogs 63 individual marine mammal technology systems and 46 bird technology systems at varying stages of development and validation. A significant emphasis is placed on remote access capabilities for data collection, system maintenance, and data transfer to ensure efficient operation without compromising worker safety or increasing costs. By prioritizing and funding research and development (R&D) in these areas, the integration of wildlife monitoring systems into OSW infrastructure can be optimized, enabling statistically robust data collection, and minimizing disruptions to standard OSW operations. Applying the study's findings can help advance wildlife monitoring technologies, ensuring sustainable OSW development while addressing critical conservation concerns for marine mammals and other wildlife. This manuscript is a synthesis of the findings from a project funded by National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC) under Agreement Number 113-165486 and of the publication from that project, Courbis et al. 2024. Technology Gaps for Monitoring Birds and Marine Mammals at Offshore Wind Facilities. Marine Technology Society Journal 58(3):5-22.