This Educational Research Brief summarizes the existing understanding of potential effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on marine life in offshore wind areas. The Brief summarizes how some species sense and respond to EMF and focuses on how EMF from offshore wind farms may interact with marine life. The focus is on species relevant to development on the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.
Electromagnetic Field Effects on Marine Life
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The Brief was reviewed by external subject matter experts (Dr. Andrew Gill, Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science; Dr. Zoe Hutchison, University of St. Andrews) and the SEER Science and Technical (S&T) Advisory Committee. These subject matter experts also participated in a panel discussion during the SEER Webinar on Electromagnetic Fields & Vessel Collision: Effects on Marine Life from Offshore Wind Energy.
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The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document.
| Title | Author | Date Sort ascending | Content Type | Technology | Stressor | Receptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Effects of Anthropogenic Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on the Early Development of Two Commercially Important Crustaceans, European Lobster, Homarus gammarus (L.) and Edible Crab, Cancer pagurus (L.) | Harsanyi, P., Scott, K., Easton, B., Ortiz, G., Chapman, E., Piper, A., Rochas, C., Lyndon, A. | Journal Article | EMF | Invertebrates | ||
| South Fork Wind Farm and South Fork Export Cable Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) | Report | Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Social & Economic Data | |||
| A modelling evaluation of electromagnetic fields emitted by buried subsea power cables and encountered by marine animals: considerations for marine renewable energy development | Hutchison, Z., Gill, A., Sigray, P., He, H., King, J. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | EMF | Fish, Invertebrates | |
| Similar circling movements observed across marine megafauna taxa | Narazaki, T., Nakamura, I., Aoki, K., Iwata, T., Shiomi, K., Luschi, P., Suganuma, H., Meyer, C., Matsumoto, R., Bost, C., Handrich, Y., Amano, M., Okamoto, R., Mori, K., Ciccione, S., Bourjea, J., Sato, K. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles | |
| Vineyard Wind 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise | Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment | |
| The Interaction Between Resource Species and Electromagnetic Fields Associated with Electricity Production by Offshore Wind Farms | Hutchison, Z., Secor, D., Gill, A. | Journal Article | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind | EMF | Fish, Invertebrates | |
| Anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMF) influence the behaviour of bottom-dwelling marine species | Hutchison, Z., Gill, A., Sigray, P., He, H., King, J. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish | ||
| Impact of magnetic fields generated by AC/DC submarine power cables on the behavior of juvenile European lobster (Homarus gammarus) | Taormina, B., Di Poi, C., Agnalt, A., Carlier, A., Desroy, N., Escobar-Lux, R., D'eu, J., Freytet, F., Durif, C. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Wind Energy | EMF | Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy | |
| A sense of place: pink salmon use a magnetic map for orientation | Putman, N., Williams, C., Gallagher, E., Dittman, A. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | Displacement, EMF | Fish, Pelagic Fish | |
| Evaluation of Potential EMF Effects on Fish Species of Commercial or Recreational Fishing Importance in Southern New England | Snyder, D., Bailey, W., Palmquist, K., Cotts, B., Olsen, K. | Report | Marine Energy | Attraction, Avoidance, EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries | |
| Magnetoreception in fish | Formicki, K., Korzelecka-Orkisz, A., Tański, A. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish | ||
| Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of 50 Hz 1 mT electromagnetic field on larval rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Baltic clam (Limecola balthica) and common ragworm (Hediste diversicolor) | Stankevičiūtė, M., Jakubowska, M., Pažusienė, J., Makaras, T. , Otremba, Z., Urban-Malinga, B., Fey, D., Greszkiewicz, M., Sauliutė, G., Baršienė, J., Andrulewicz, E. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates | ||
| Effect of static magnetic field on the hatching success, growth, mortality, and yolk-sac absorption of larval Northern pike Esox lucius | Fey, D., Greszkiewicz, M., Otremba, Z., Andrulewicz, E. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish | ||
| XLPE Submarine Cable Systems: Attachment to XLPE land cable systems user’s guide | ABB | Guidance | Marine Energy | EMF | ||
| A review of potential impacts of submarine power cables on the marine environment: Knowledge gaps, recommendations and future directions | Taormina, B., Bald, J., Want, A., Thouzeau, G., Lejart, M., Desroy, N., Carlier, A. | Journal Article | Habitat Change | |||
| Behavioral responses by migrating juvenile salmonids to a subsea high-voltage DC power cable | Wyman, M., Klimley, A., Battleson, R., Agosta, T., Chapman, E., Haverkamp, P., Pagel, M., Kavet, R. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Pelagic Fish | ||
| Understanding the effects of electromagnetic field emissions from Marine Renewable Energy Devices (MREDs) on the commercially important edible crab, Cancer pagurus (L.) | Scott, K., Harsanyi, P., Lyndon, A. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Invertebrates | |
| Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Impacts on Elasmobranch (shark, rays, and skates) and American Lobster Movement and Migration from Direct Current Cables | Hutchison, Z., Sigray, P., He, H., Gill, A., King, J., Gibson, C. | Report | Marine Energy | EMF | Fish, Invertebrates | |
| Geomagnetic field influences upward movement of young Chinook salmon emerging from nests | Putman, N., Scanlan, M., Pollock, A., O'Neil, J., Couture, R., Stoner, J., Quinn, T., Lohmann, K., Noakes, D. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Fish, Pelagic Fish | |
| Chinook salmon and green sturgeon migrate through San Francisco Estuary despite large distortions in the local magnetic field produced by bridges | Klimley, A., Wyman, M., Kavet, R. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish | |
| Magnetic field discrimination, learning, and memory in the yellow stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis) | Newton, K., Kajiura, S. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish | ||
| Annex IV 2016 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World | Copping, A., Sather, N., Hanna, L., Whiting, J., Zydlewski, G., Staines, G., Gill, A., Hutchison, I., O'Hagan, A., Simas, T., Bald, J., Sparling, C., Wood, J., Masden, E. | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | |||
| Renewable Energy in situ Power Cable Observation | Love, M., Nishimoto, M., Clark, S., Bull, A. | Report | Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Attraction, EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates | |
| Effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields on growth, total antioxidant activity and morphology of the intestine in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) | Nofouzi, K., Sheikhzadeh, N., Jassur, D., Helan, J., Shahbazfar, A., Tukmechi, A., Naghshara, H., Baradaran, B., Mahmoudi, R. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Fish, Pelagic Fish | |
| The potential impacts of submarine power cables on benthic elasmobranchs | Orr, M. | Thesis | Marine Energy, Wind Energy | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish | |
| MaRVEN - Environmental Impacts of Noise, Vibrations and Electromagnetic Emissions from Marine Renewable Energy | Thomsen, F., Gill, A., Kosecka, M., Andersson, M., André, M., Degraer, S., Folegot, T., Gabriel, J., Judd, A., Neumann, T., Norro, A., Risch, D., Sigray, P., Wood, D., Wilson, B. | Report | Marine Energy | Attraction, Avoidance, EMF | ||
| Identical Response of Caged Rock Crabs (Genera Metacarcinus and Cancer) to Energized and Unenergized Undersea Power Cables in Southern California, USA | Love, M., Nishimoto, M., Clark, S., Bull, A. | Journal Article | EMF | Invertebrates | ||
| Magnetic navigation behavior and the oceanic ecology of young loggerhead sea turtles | Putman, N., Verley, P., Endres, E., Lohmann, K. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Reptiles, Sea Turtles | |
| Rearing in a Distorted Magnetic Field Disrupts the 'Map Sense' of Juvenile Steelhead Trout | Putman, N., Meinke, A., Noakes, D. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Pelagic Fish | ||
| Bioelectric Fields of Marine Organisms: Voltage and Frequency Contributions to Detectability by Electroreceptive Predators | Bedore, C., Kajiura, S. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Invertebrates | ||
| Evidence for Geomagnetic Imprinting as a Homing Mechanism in Pacific Salmon | Putman, N., Lohmann, K., Putman, E., Quinn, T., Klimley, A., Noakes, D. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Pelagic Fish | ||
| Survival of the Stillest: Predator Avoidance in Shark Embryos | Kempster, R., Hart, N., Collin, S. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Wind Energy | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish | |
| Block Island Wind Farm and Block Island Transmission System Environmental Report/Construction and Operations Plan | Tetra Tech Inc. | Report | Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment | ||
| Effects of EMFs from Undersea Power Cables on Elasmobranchs and other Marine Species | Normandeau Associates Inc, Exponent Inc., Tricas, T., Gill, A. | Report | EMF | Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles | ||
| Economic comparison of VSC HVDC and HVAC as transmission system for a 300 MW offshore wind farm | Eeckhout,B., Hertem, D., Reza, M., Srivastava, K., Belmans, R. | Journal Article | Wind Energy | EMF | ||
| COWRIE 2.0 Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Phase 2: EMF Sensitive Fish Response to EM Emissions from Sub-sea Electricity Cables of the Type used by the Offshore Renewable Energy Industry | Gill, A., Huang, Y., Gloyne-Philips, I., Metcalfe, J., Quayle, V., Spencer, J., Wearmouth, V. | Report | Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind | EMF | Fish | |
| True Navigation and Magnetic Maps in Spiny Lobsters | Boles, L., Lohmann, K. | Journal Article | EMF | Invertebrates | ||
| Response properties and biological function of the skate electrosensory system during ontogeny | Sisneros, J., Tricas, T., Luer, C. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish | |
| Sensitivity and Response Dynamics of Elasmobranch Electrosensory Primary Afferent Neurons to Near Threshold Fields | Tricas, T., New, J. | Journal Article | EMF | Fish, Demersal Fish | ||
| Detection of magnetic field intensity by sea turtles | Lohmann, C., Lohmann, K. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | EMF | Reptiles, Sea Turtles |