Short Science Summary: Electromagnetic Fields

Lobster

Potential Environmental Effects on Animals from Marine Renewable Energy: Electromagnetic Fields

Certain marine animals, such as certain elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays, etc.), marine mammals, crustaceans, sea turtles, and other fish species, can sense electromagnetic fields (EMFs). These species use EMFs to navigate, orient, and hunt for prey. Cables from operational marine renewable energy (MRE) devices can add EMFs to the environment, on top of other anthropogenic sources such as underwater telecom or power cables, while also adding to the Earth’s natural field. MRE devices can potentially alter the ambient EMF field, which may disrupt the animals’ ability to detect natural signatures, potentially affecting their survival, reproductive success, or migratory patterns. With the advent of larger MRE developments, the intensity and range of the emissions may increase.

This Short Science Summary was developed based on the OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World, specifically Chapter 5: Risk to Animals from Electromagnetic Fields Emitted by Electric Cables and Marine Renewable Energy Devices.

Download the Electromagnetic Fields Short Science Summary

The table below contains the literature relevant to effects of electromagnetic fields on marine animals and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
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, Offshore Wind EMF Fish, Invertebrates
An Evaluation of the Potential Impact of Extracting Marine Renewable Energy in the Coastal Environment of the Black Sea Zburlea, L., Rusu, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals
Ocean energy and the environment: Research and strategic actions ETIP Ocean Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
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, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
A Review on Environmental and Social Impacts of Thermal Gradient and Tidal Currents Energy Conversion and Application to the Case of Chiapas, Mexico Rivera, G., Felix, A., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
2020 State of the Science Report - Chapter 5: Risk to Animals from Electromagnetic Fields Emitted by Electric Cables and Marine Renewable Energy Devices Gill, A., Desender, M. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave EMF Fish, Invertebrates
2020 State of the Science Report - Chapter 13: Risk Retirement and Data Transferability for Marine Renewable Energy Copping, A., Freeman, M., Gorton, A., Hemery, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave EMF, Noise Human Dimensions
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, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Reptiles, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Review of Available Models for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Buenau, K., Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Garcia Medina, G. , Hibler, L. Report Marine Energy Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Risk Retirement for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Copping, A., Freeman, M., Overhus, D. Report Marine Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Risk Retirement—Decreasing Uncertainty and Informing Consenting Processes for Marine Renewable Energy Development Copping, A., Freeman, M., Gorton, A., Hemery, L. Journal Article Marine Energy EMF, Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Electric and magnetic senses in marine animals, and potential behavioral effects of electromagnetic surveys Nyqvist, D., Durif, C., Gullikstad Johnsen, M., De Jong, K., Nesse Forland, T., Doksæter Sivle, L. Journal Article Marine Energy EMF Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Reptiles
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, Legal & Policy
Effect of low frequency electromagnetic field on the behavior and bioenergetics of the polychaete Hediste diversicolor Jakubowska, M., Urban-Malinga, B., Otremba, Z., Andrulewicz, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind EMF Invertebrates
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, Fisheries
Deliverable 2.1 Monitoring plans for Noise, Electromagnetic Fields and Seabed Integrity Vinagre, P., Cruz E., Chainho, P., Ruiz, P., Felis, I., Muxika, I., Bald, J. Report Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, EMF, Noise Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals
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
Assessing potential impacts of energized submarine power cables on crab harvests Love, M., Nishimoto, M., Clark, S., McCrea, M., Bull, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy EMF Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
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, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise
Assessment of Potential Impact of Electromagnetic Fields from Undersea Cable on Migratory Fish Behavior Kavet, R., Wyman, M., Klimley, A., Vergara, X. Report Marine Energy Attraction, EMF Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish
Assessment of Electromagnetic Field Emissions from Subsea Cables Dhanak, M., Coulson, R., Dibiasio, C., Frankenfield, J., Henderson, E., Pugsley, D., Valdes, G. Conference Paper Marine Energy EMF
Renewable Energy in situ Power Cable Observation Love, M., Nishimoto, M., Clark, S., Bull, A. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Attraction, EMF Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates
Potential Impact of Submarine Power Cables on Crab Harvest Bull, A., Nishimoto, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, EMF Invertebrates
Current Ability to Assess Impacts of Electromagnetic Fields Associated with Marine and Hydrokinetic Technologies on Marine Fishes in Hawaii Claisse, J., Pondella, D., Williams, C., Zahn, L., Williams, J. Report Marine Energy EMF 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
MHK and Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) Gill, A. Presentation Marine Energy EMF
Early Research Efforts at the Navy's Wave Energy Test Site Cross, P., Rocheleau, R., Vega, L., Li, N., Cheung, K. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, EMF, Noise
MeyGen Tidal Energy Project Phase 1 Electromagnetic Fields Best Practice Report Rollings, E. Report Tidal, Marine Energy EMF
Marine Renewable Energy, Electromagnetic (EM) Fields and EM-Sensitive Animals Gill, A., Gloyne-Philips, I., Kimber, J., Sigray, P. Book Chapter Marine Energy EMF
Environmental Effects Monitoring Report 2011-2013 FORCE Report Tidal, Marine Energy Noise, EMF Marine Mammals, Invertebrates, Fish, Birds
PMEC-NETS Annual Operations and Monitoring Report 2013 Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center Report Marine Energy, Wave EMF, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Fairhead Tidal Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Document McGrath, C. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Noise, EMF Reptiles, Marine Mammals, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fish, Environmental Impact Assessment, Birds
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Fish and Invertebrates - FY2012 Progress Report Woodruff, D., Cullinan, V., Copping, A., Marshall, K. Report Marine Energy EMF Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
EPRI Workshop on EMF and Aquatic Life Electric Power Research Institute Workshop Article Marine Energy EMF Ecosystem Processes
Potential Interactions between Diadromous Fishes of U.K. Conservation Importance and the Electromagnetic Fields and Subsea Noise from Marine Renewable Energy Developments Gill, A., Bartlett, M., Thomsen, F. Journal Article Marine Energy EMF, Noise Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish
Building Capacity for Marine Hydrokinetic Energy: Atlas of Potential Synergistic and Conflicting Environmental, Ecological, and Human Use Considerations Dubbs, L., Voss, C., Von Korff, B., Morton, J., Peterson, C., Fegley, S., Piehler, M. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Fish and Invertebrates Task 2.1.3: Effects on Aquatic Organisms Fiscal Year 2011 Progress Report Woodruff, D., Schultz, I., Marshall, K., Ward, J., Cullinan, V. Report Marine Energy EMF Fish, Invertebrates
Effects on Freshwater Organisms of Magnetic Fields Associated with Hydrokinetic Turbines Cada, G., Bevelhimer, M., Riemer, K., Turner, J. Report Riverine, Marine Energy EMF Invertebrates, Fish
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Fish and Invertebrates - FY2010 Progress Report Schultz, I., Woodruff, D., Marshall, K., Pratt, W., Roesijadi, G. Report Marine Energy EMF Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Fish, Demersal Fish
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