BlueEcho - From science to policy: assessing impacts and developing solutions for ship traffic and offshore wind farms through detailed soundmaps

Research Project, 2024 – 2027

BluEcho aims to improve the sustainability of the shipping and wind farm industries and conserve species biodiversity by assessing noise impact on marine fauna and evaluating the efficiency of mitigation measures to reduce noise levels. We will adopt a combination of simulations, fieldwork, and desktop studies to provide critical data for the implementation of low-noise Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Sea, and the Polar Oceans, where the latter will serve as a benchmark as quiet oceans. Sound from wind turbines and ships will be analysed in detail with cutting-edge numerical techniques. This will form input for producing novel sound maps that will guide the process of identification of mitigation measures of noise emission. These measures will then be analysed in detail. Underwater noise impact will be assessed on selected marine taxa tailored to each sea basin. An economic analysis of costs and benefits of mitigation measured will be coupled with a marine spatial planning analysis. BluEcho will use open marine data and results will be made broadly available to decision-making bodies and represent a benchmark for the relevant stakeholders.

Chalmers will, together with UniTS and industrial stakeholeders, contribute in the modelling and analysis of the sound sources and mitigation measures, creating one of the core inputs for the environmental and economic analysis to be performed.