Underwater acoustic monitoring devices have been deployed off Scotland’s east coast for a two-year study to enhance understanding of minke whale activity in areas identified for potential offshore wind farm export cable routes.
The research, conducted by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), focuses on the Southern Trench Marine Protected Area (MPA) off Aberdeenshire, where multiple offshore wind projects plan grid connection infrastructure.
Funding for the study comes from several ScotWind projects, including Broadshore, Caledonia, and Muir Mhòr Offshore Wind Farms, along with Crown Estate Scotland and NatureScot. The developers aim to design mitigation measures for offshore wind projects and contribute to protecting marine species in Scottish waters.
The Southern Trench MPA is designated to protect a known minke whale population, though researchers have limited data on their arrival and presence in the area.
SAMS states that the passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) initiative will gather baseline data on the seasonal presence and movement of minke whales before offshore wind work begins.
Monitoring equipment, including broadband acoustic recorders and acoustic release units, has been placed at three sites within the MPA using Marine Environmental Solutions’ vessels.
“Our team has successfully retrieved and re-deployed three acoustic devices covering summer and autumn 2025 in the Southern Trench MPA to understand these magnificent marine mammals better,” said Anja Wittich, project manager at SAMS Enterprise. “This information will provide insights into minke whale movements and help us understand potential impacts.”
Original Story at www.offshorewind.biz