Marine energy devices can be secured to the seafloor by mooring lines, enabling them to remain in place on the sea surface or in the water column. In an array of devices, multiple underwater cables converge into a single power export cable installed on the seafloor. In some cases, oceanographic instruments are deployed alongside marine energy devices, but on separate mooring lines, to collect data like wave height and period. Some stakeholders have expressed concern that these mooring lines and cables may endanger marine animals by creating a risk of entanglement, though this risk remains uncertain.
The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.
| Title | Author | Date Sort ascending | Content Type | Technology | Stressor | Receptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressing Tidal Energy Through Organized Data Approaches | Copping, A., Hemery, L., Garavelli, L., Freeman, M. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Tidal | Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles | |
| Minimizing environmental risks to progress the marine renewable energy industry | Garavelli, L., Rose, D., Freeman, M., Hemery, L., Farr, H., Copping, A. | Conference Paper | Marine Energy | Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | ||
| Environmental effects of marine renewable energy off-grid and micro-grid applications: a use case approach to assess existing knowledge and remaining uncertainties | Hemery, L., Weicht, L., Copping, A., Garavelli, L. | Conference Paper | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts | |
| Environmental Risks and Impacts of Offshore Energy: A Literature Review | Pontinha, D., Bispo, L., Gervásio, H., Aktuglu, Y. | Conference Paper | Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind | Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning | |
| Addressing Place-Based Environmental Questions to Enable Marine Energy Deployments | Hemery, L., Copping, A., Jones, K. | Presentation | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Entanglement, Habitat Change | Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement | |
| Sea Space Analysis for Wave and Tidal Energy | Lee, S., Strong, V., Anning, D., Buecker, N., Flanary, C., Chang, G., Escajeda, E. , Kramer, S., Mullany, D. | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts | |
| Effects and management implications of emerging marine renewable energy technologies | Copping, A., Wood, D., Rumes, B., Zin Ong, E., Golmen, L., Mulholland, R., Harrod, O. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, OTEC, Salinity Gradient | Chemicals, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals | |
| Stressor-Specific Guidance Document: Entanglement | OES-Environmental | Report | Marine Energy | Entanglement | ||
| Tidal Stream Energy Project: Collision Risk Data and Evidence Summary | Phillips, E., Wren, S., King, G., San Martin, E. | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal | Avoidance, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy | |
| Sustainability Assessment of an Oscillating Water Column During the Design, Installation, Operation, and Disassembly Phases | Gallego-Ramírez, C., López-Mosquera, J., Chica, E., Rubio-Clemente, A. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Wave | Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike | Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts | |
| Outlook on the development of eco-friendly offshore renewable energy technologies | Sun, P., Jiang, Z., Chen, Y., Song, X., Pang, Y., Cai, B., Xu, X., Li, Y. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind | Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning | |
| A Fuzzy Logic Technique for the Environmental Impact Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Power Plants | Flores, P., Mendoza, E. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Tidal, Wave | Attraction, Avoidance, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Visual Impacts | |
| Wave and Tidal Energy: Evaluation of Feasibility, Costs, and Benefits Senate Bill 605 Report | Lee, S., Strong, V., Aspen Environmental Group | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data | |
| MASTS ASM 2024 Workshop Proceeding: Tracking Top Predators in Marine Renewable Energy Development Areas | Sutherland, J. | Workshop Article | Marine Energy, Wind Energy | Attraction, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change | Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds | |
| OES-Environmental 2024 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World | OES-Environmental | Report | Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave | Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Stakeholder Engagement | |
| 2024 State of the Science Report - Chapter 3: Marine Renewable Energy: Stressor-Receptor Interactions | Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Rose, D., Farr, H., Whiting, J., Copping, A. | Report | Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave | Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles | |
| Sea turtle density surface models along the United States Atlantic coast | DiMatteo, A., Roberts, J., Jones, D., Garrison, L., Hart, K., Kenney, R., McLellan, W., Lomac-MacNair, K., Palka, D., Rickard, M., Roberts, K., Zoidis, A., Sparks, L. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Wind Energy | Entanglement | Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Fisheries | |
| Feasibility of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Development for U.S. Islands | Copping, A., Farr, H. | Conference Paper | Marine Energy, OTEC | Chemicals, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change | Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions | |
| From Science to Consenting: Applying Environmental Effects Information to Support Regulatory Decision-Making | Freeman, M., Copping, A., Rose, D. | Presentation | Marine Energy | Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy | |
| Improving Understanding of Environmental Effects from Single MRE Devices to Arrays | Hasselman, D., Hemery, L., Copping, A., Fulton, E., Fox, J., Gill, A., Polagye, B. | Conference Paper | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | ||
| Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Annual Report 2023 | Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal | Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals | |
| ‘Scaling up’ our understanding of environmental effects of marine renewable energy development from single devices to large-scale commercial arrays | Hasselman, D., Hemery, L., Copping, A., Fulton, E., Fox, J., Gill, A., Polagye, B. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | ||
| Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Annual Report 2022 | Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal | Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals | |
| A comprehensive overview of environmental footprints of water desalination and alleviation strategies | Shokri, A., Fard, M. | Journal Article | Marine Energy | Chemicals, Entanglement | Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions | |
| Clean Energy from the Ocean: Measuring the Environmental Footprint of Devices | Rose, D., Gunn, C., Hemery, L. | Magazine Article | Marine Energy | Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions | |
| Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) in the Tropics: An Overview of MRE Potential in Oaxaca, Mexico | Oman, J. | Report | Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Wave | Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data | |
| ORJIP Ocean Energy Information Note: Encounters of Marine Animals with Mooring Systems and Subsea Cables | Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) | Report | Marine Energy | Entanglement | Fish, Marine Mammals | |
| Wave-Energy Devices Might Affect the Natural Environment: Scientists plan research to better understand effects | Oregon State University, Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC), Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC), University of Washington | Magazine Article | Marine Energy, Wave | EMF, Entanglement, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals | |
| Biological Consequences of Marine Energy Development on Marine Animals | Hemery, L., Copping, A., Overhus, D. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Tidal | Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals | |
| Environmental Information for Siting and Operation of Floating Tidal Turbines in U.S. Waters | Copping, A., Garavelli, L., Overhus, D., Tugade, L. | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal | Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals | |
| Are fish in danger? A review of environmental effects of marine renewable energy on fishes | Copping, A., Hemery, L., Viehman, H., Seitz, A., Staines, G., Hasselman, D. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave | Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Fish | |
| Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science | Copping, A., Hemery, L., Overhus, D., Garavelli, L., Freeman, M., Whiting, J., Gorton, A., Farr, H., Rose, D., Tugade, L. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data | |
| 2020 State of the Science Report - Chapter 8: Encounters of Marine Animals with Marine Renewable Energy Device Mooring Systems and Subsea Cables | Garavelli, L. | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Entanglement | Marine Mammals | |
| OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World | Copping, A., Hemery, L. | Report | Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave | Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data | |
| SEA Wave D2.2 Critical analysis of environmental mitigation and monitoring strategies | Fox, J. | Report | Marine Energy, Wave | Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise | Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement | |
| Final License Application for the PacWave South Project | Oregon State University | Report | Marine Energy, Wave | Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | Birds, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Navigation | |
| Risk of whale encounters with offshore renewable energy mooring lines and electrical cables | Copping, A., Grear, M., Sanders, G. | Presentation | Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind | Collision, Entanglement | Marine Mammals, Cetaceans | |
| A Snapshot of Risk for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development | Copping, A., Kramer, S. | Conference Paper | Marine Energy | Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise | ||
| Assessment of Entanglement Risk to Marine Megafauna due to Offshore Renewable Energy Mooring Systems | Harnois, V., Smith, H., Benjamins, S., Johanning, L. | Journal Article | Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind | Entanglement | Marine Mammals | |
| Understanding the Potential for Marine Megafauna Entanglement Risk from Marine Renewable Energy Developments [Presentation] | Benjamins, S., Harnois, V., Smith, H., Johanning, L., Greenhill, L., Carter, C., Wilson, B. | Presentation | Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind | Entanglement | Marine Mammals, Cetaceans |