Investigation into the potential risk of entanglement of marine mammals with discarded fishing gear associated with floating offshore windfarms

Accidental entanglement of marine megafauna (e.g., marine mammals) in fishing gear is a known global conservation and welfare concern due to its widespread, severe impacts on both individuals and populations. In recent years, concerns have been raised about the potential for interaction between floating offshore wind (FOW) infrastructure and abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) inadvertently creating an elevated entanglement risk. 

The present project focuses on strengthening our understanding of the potential risks of secondary entanglement of marine mammals and other marine megafauna (e.g., basking sharks) in the Scottish FOW sector. Specifically, the project aims to develop a high-level framework to describe, where possible quantitatively, the various processes that have to occur before secondary entanglement of marine megafauna in FOW infrastructure becomes a genuine risk, rather than a theoretical possibility. 

The project is being undertaken through a series of interconnected work packages, which each investigate specific research questions. These will subsequently be integrated into a comprehensive assessment framework. Work packages include:

• Establishing fishing gear loss rates through interviews across the commercial fisheries sector (led by UHI Shetland)

• Understanding how fishing gear buoyancy changes over time (led by UHI Shetland)

• Establish how much floating derelict fishing gear might be present at sea (led by partners at HiDef Surveying, in collaboration with Principle Power’s Kincardine wind farm)

• Review of underwater footage for presence of snagged ALDFG among offshore wind farm infrastructure (in collaboration with Equinor’s HyWind Scotland wind farm)

• Development of high-resolution drifting models to explore likelihood of ALDFG advecting into offshore wind farms.

The geographical focus of the project is on offshore waters to the north, northeast and east of mainland Scotland and the Northern Isles, driven by the location of operational and proposed Scottish FOW sites.

The Role of SAMS

SAMS Enterprise leads the overall project, as well as leading several of the work packages, notably the development of the final assessment framework and delivery of a final report to Marine Directorate.