Offshore Wind Farms Jeopardize Harbor Porpoises

Building climate-friendly offshore wind farms puts harbor porpoises at risk. The
construction work for the Danish “Horns Rev 2” wind farm, located west of Blavands Huk,
started in May. 91 foundation piles had to be driven into the ground, generating sound
pressures of up to 235 dB – levels which seriously jeopardize harbor porpoises. Time and
place could not have been chosen any worse: The ramming work was done in an area which is
considered to be one of the most vital harbor porpoise nursery grounds in the North Sea at a
time when these small cetaceans give birth to their young.
Further projects include the “FINO 3” research platform located off the island of Sylt
and the “alpha ventus” test field located north of the island of Borkum which will comprise 12
turbines. There are planned a total of 16 wind farms in the North Sea and 3 in the Baltic Sea,
each comprising 80 turbines, and additional plants along the coasts. Although technically
feasible, effective noise control measures will not be implemented in any of these projects for
reasons of costs, not even in the publicly funded “FINO 3” and “alpha ventus” projects!
GRD, NABU and GSM have urged the German minister for the environment, Sigmar
Gabriel, to promote, on national and international levels, the implementation of effective
noise control measures during the construction of offshore wind farms.

Ulrich Karlowski , GRD