I was watching a Skinner video this morning, and as usual, he managed to uncover something alarming. He pointed out that he could hear the pounding of the windmill being pile-driven, even though it was over 12 miles away. This intrusion on our marine life is happening far from shore, yet the noise is still reaching us.
The **Revolution Wind** project, currently under development about 12 miles off the northeast coast and 12 miles southwest of Aquinnah near Martha's Vineyard, is a major concern. With up to 65 turbines planned, the project, led by Ørsted and Eversource, aims to generate 704 megawatts of power to supply Rhode Island and Connecticut. But at what cost? The decision to use pile driving, instead of a more environmentally friendly cement base, was clearly made to cut costs, without considering the devastating impact on marine life.
If we can hear and feel the pounding from this distance, imagine the effects closer to the site. What is this doing to the fish, the whales, and the entire marine environment? We already know that fish like fluke, which live on the ocean floor, could be avoiding their usual habitats because of the vibrations shaking the sand beneath them. Could this be why we're seeing more fluke in the bays, following the bait that's been driven away from its usual spots?
The truth is, we have no idea what long-term effects this kind of construction will have on our marine environment. This has never been done here before, and anyone who claims to know the impact is simply not being truthful. The risk to our oceans is too great to ignore.
Forum/General Discussion/Windmill Pile Driving Pounding? Do we have any clue what effect this is happening on our fisheries.
Windmill Pile Driving Pounding? Do we have any clue what effect this is happening on our fisheries.
386 views·4 replies·by george
I don't think I'm going out of a limb stating that all the Sonar followed by the piledriving has been a positive thing for the marine mammal population. It was every week with another whale washing up on the beaches up and down the east coast, usually following the sonar ships that were mapping the bottom for the soon to be windmills. It's amazing what they get away with and the damage done in the name of "Green Energy"
First MateOriginal Crew417 postsSince 2018
I was watching a Skinner video this morning, and as usual, he managed to uncover something alarming. He pointed out that he could hear the pounding of the windmill being pile-driven, even though it was over 12 miles away. This intrusion on our marine life is happening far from shore, yet the noise is still reaching us.My personal observation is that with most of our fisheries and environmental regulations, the prerequisite impact studies are typically very sparse on actual data. Then they are followed by sweeping speculations about what will actually occur when a given program is implemented. In my mind this is the definition of "junk science".
The **Revolution Wind** project, currently under development about 12 miles off the northeast coast and 12 miles southwest of Aquinnah near Martha's Vineyard, is a major concern. With up to 65 turbines planned, the project, led by Ørsted and Eversource, aims to generate 704 megawatts of power to supply Rhode Island and Connecticut. But at what cost? The decision to use pile driving, instead of a more environmentally friendly cement base, was clearly made to cut costs, without considering the devastating impact on marine life.
If we can hear and feel the pounding from this distance, imagine the effects closer to the site. What is this doing to the fish, the whales, and the entire marine environment? We already know that fish like fluke, which live on the ocean floor, could be avoiding their usual habitats because of the vibrations shaking the sand beneath them. Could this be why we're seeing more fluke in the bays, following the bait that's been driven away from its usual spots?
The truth is, we have no idea what long-term effects this kind of construction will have on our marine environment. This has never been done here before, and anyone who claims to know the impact is simply not being truthful. The risk to our oceans is too great to ignore.
I went to several of the public input meetings before the start of the South Fork Wind Farms being built on the southern edge of Coxes Ledge. I distinctly remember the discussion that came up regarding the possible negative impacts on marine life by EMP's (electromagnetic pulses) The "scientists" cited a study done several years prior on a very small population of fish kept in pens on the West Coast. Yeah, that sounds real relevant to our own local waters!!
CaptainOriginal Crew1,847 postsSince 2018
The US Navy has done extensive studies on those very impacts on marine life. I guess they chose the study that was "friendlier" to their agenda.
So lets get this straight. A boater must slow down and give a wide berth to marine life to not disrupt their activity yet under water pile driving is ok..........typical "Do as I say, not as I do"
God bless America!
So lets get this straight. A boater must slow down and give a wide berth to marine life to not disrupt their activity yet under water pile driving is ok..........typical "Do as I say, not as I do"
God bless America!
Captain4,156 postsSince 2021
The US Navy has done extensive studies on those very impacts on marine life. I guess they chose the study that was "friendlier" to their agenda.A day doesn't go by where I don't get a speed warning for whales, yet they approve the "incidental killing" of them through this process. I get aggravated every time I read one
So lets get this straight. A boater must slow down and give a wide berth to marine life to not disrupt their activity yet under water pile driving is ok..........typical "Do as I say, not as I do"
God bless America!
CommodoreOriginal Crew5,158 postsSince 2018
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