Many ocean species rely on sound to communicate, feed, navigate, and interact with their environment. Noise from some types of human activity has the potential to displace or harm marine and coastal species by affecting their behavior or causing physical injury. The noise that floating offshore wind energy development will generate will vary during the different phases of pre-construction surveying, construction, operation, and decommissioning (See also Fact Sheet Impacts to Marine Mammals from Pre-construction Surveys).
This is a part of a series of seven fact sheets summarizing existing science on the environmental effects of offshore wind farms to address common concerns raised in California’s communities. This fact sheet underwent a scientific review process by 11 experts from academia, consulting, and government. It is intended as a resource for legislators, agencies, local government, and other policymakers as they field questions from the public.
