Two beached whales have washed up in Seine-Maritime, within just two days of each other: a nearly 20-meter-long emaciated rorqual in Saint-Valery-en-Caux and a 3-meter-long small rorqual in Veules-les-Roses. Environmental organization, Sea Shepherd, demands an investigation, believing that the cetaceans could have been confused by the noise pollution generated by the Fecamp wind turbine construction, 40 km away.
Scientists confirm it is impossible to determine the cause of the beachings. Still, it is clear that some strandings are linked to human activities and underwater noises. “It might disorientate and cause individuals not to feed, disturb their relationships with their environment, or alter habitats,” says Jean-Luc Jung, director of the Dinard Marine Station. The primary causes of beach strandings are natural death and collisions. Every year, between two and ten whales are found dead on the French coast…
Disorienting Sounds
Although some scientists concede that human-made noises, like those made by wind turbines, can have devastating effects on marine mammals, there’s no proof that Fe camp’s wind turbines are responsible for the whale beachings. The construction work for the Fe camp offshore wind project began last year and features 71 turbines covering 49.65 square kilometers. Total Energies, one of Europe’s leading offshore wind developers and operators, plans to install the turbines at depths of up to 45 meters, making it one of the largest offshore wind projects in French waters.
Noise pollution generated by human activities like shipping or energy operations can harm cetaceans’ hearing, making it difficult or impossible for whales to communicate and rightfully detect their surroundings. For example, many studies have suggested that the high-frequency sounds from military sonars can both kill and injure species like whales.
Protecting Marine Wildlife
The importance of protecting marine wildlife is not lost in today’s society, where there is increased awareness of environmental protection. The vulnerability and threat of marine wildlife make prioritizing their conservation essential. The Marine Biodiversity Observatory reports that 75% of French marine mammal species, including dolphins and whales, face concerns or potential threats from human activities.
Although further investigations are crucial, the importance of human-made noise and its potential impact on marine life cannot be underestimated. It acts as a call to French and international organizations to modify their approach to wind-turbine development and energy operations, especially in regions close to habitats that harbor marine wildlife. In turn, regulations would help in developing an entirely safe environment for marine wildlife coexisting with human activities.