At BOEM, environmental protection – informed by the best available science and law – is a priority and an indispensable consideration in our decision making. Before any activities related to offshore wind development take place, BOEM requires companies to follow strict protective measures, including those to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts from our regulated offshore energy activities.
Understanding Large Whale Mortality Events in the Atlantic
The Marine Mammal Protection Act defines an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) as “a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response.” Since 2017, NOAA Fisheries has declared three active UMEs for baleen whales in the Atlantic Ocean including North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales, and minke whales. Of the whales examined from several of the ongoing UMEs, the leading cause of death is human interaction – specifically from entanglements in fishing gear or vessel strikes, which are long standing threats to these species. Whales feeding in nearshore waters where ship densities are high increases the likelihood of a potential ship strike.
All current evidence indicates that there are no links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities, including site characterization surveys. As part of an active UME investigation, NOAA Fisheries assembles an investigative team, comprised of Stranding Network members and other scientists, to coordinate with the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events to review data, sample stranded whales, and determine the next steps for the investigation.