Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Office of Renewable Energy Programs

2021

Atlantic 

Science

Year in Review
Cultural Resources

Assessment of Seascape, Landscape, and Visual Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Developments on the 

Outer Continental Shelf of the United States | 4 |

Battle of the Atlantic: A Catalog of Shipwrecks off North Carolina’s Coast from the Second World War | 5 |

New York Collaborative Archaeological Survey | 6 |

Fates and Effects

Coastal High Frequency Radar Wind Turbine Interference Mitigation | 7 |

Electromagnetic Field Impacts on American Eel Movement and Migration from Direct Current Cables | 8 |

Field Observations During Offshore Wind Structure Installation and Operation, Volume I | 9 |

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Development Assessment | 10 |

Hydrodynamic Modeling, Particle Tracking and Agent-Based Modeling of Larvae in the 

U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight | 11 |

National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Impact-Producing Factors in the Offshore Wind 

Cumulative Impacts Scenario on the South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf | 12 |

Marine Mammals & Other Wildlife

Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species: FY15 - FY19 | 13 |

Ecological Baseline Studies of the US Outer Continental Shelf | 14 |

Megafauna Aerial Surveys in the Wind Energy Areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island with Emphasis on 

Large Whales: Summary Report Campaign 5, 2018-2019 and Interim Report Campaign 6A, 2020 | 15 | 

Optimization of Towed Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Array Design and Performance Study (Passive 

Acoustic Monitoring Study) | 16 | 

Risk Assessment to Model Encounter Rates between Large Whales and Vessel Traffic from Offshore Wind 

Energy on the Atlantic OCS | 17 | 

Workshops

Improving Monitoring, Data Consistency, Archiving, and Access for Improved Regional Integration of 

Renewable Energy Science | 18 |

What’s Next

CONTENT

New and Continuing Studies that are Underway | 19 |
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 3 

overview

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) funds environmental 

studies for information needed to predict, assess, and manage impacts from 

offshore energy and marine mineral activities on human, marine, and coastal 

environments as mandated under Section 20 of the Outer Continental Shelf 

Lands Act.

This year in review presents the studies completed in 2021 in support of 

BOEM’s Offshore Renewable Energy Program along the Atlantic coast. The 

studies represent a broad spectrum of research and monitoring to address 

a variety of environmental concerns and issues. This review represents a 

snapshot of the ongoing and completed studies funded in whole or in part 

by BOEM.

To learn more about other studies, please visit the BOEM website at 

www.boem.gov.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 4 

Assessment of Seascape, Landscape, and Visual Impacts 

of Offshore Wind Energy Developments on the Outer 

Continental Shelf of the United States

As large-scale deployment of offshore 

wind energy facilities begins in the 

United States, an important challenge 

for developers and regulators is the 

assessment of potential seascape, 

landscape, and visual impacts on 

important coastal scenic, historic, 

and recreational resources; Native 

American tribal properties and treasured 

seascapes; commercial interests 

dependent on tourism; and the private 

property of coastal residents. This 

document describes the methodology 

for seascape, landscape, and visual 

impact assessment (SLVIA) that the U.S. 

Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau 

of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) 

uses to identify the potential impacts of 

offshore wind energy developments in 

Federal waters on the Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS) of the United States.

The SLVIA has two parts: seascape and 

landscape impact assessment (SLIA) 

and visual impact assessment (VIA). 

SLIA analyzes and evaluates impacts on 

both the physical elements and features 

that make up a landscape or seascape 

and the aesthetic, perceptual, and 

experiential aspects of the landscape or 

seascape that make it distinctive. These 

impacts affect the “feel,” “character,” or 

“sense of place” of an area of landscape 

or seascape, rather than the composition 

of a view from a particular place. Visual 

impact assessment (VIA) analyzes and 

evaluates the impacts on people of 

adding the proposed development to 

views from selected viewpoints.

Photo: View of Block Island Wind Farm from Block Island, Rhode Island.

Conducted by:

Argonne National 

Laboratory

Key Researchers: 

R. G. Sullivan

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ Methodology for conducting 

a seascape and landscape impact 

assessment (SLIA).

■ Methodology for conducting a 

visual impact assessment (VIA).

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ The assessment methodology is 

provided to wind energy developers 

to use in the preparation of their 

construction and operations plans.

■ BOEM will use this methodology 

in assessing the visual impacts 

from proposed offshore 

wind developments.

Additional information

Final report:

Assessment of Seascape, Landscape, 

and Visual Impacts of Offshore Wind 

Energy Developments on the Outer 

Continental Shelf of the United States
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 5 

Battle of the Atlantic: A Catalog of Shipwrecks off North 

Carolina’s Coast from the Second World War

The Battle of the Atlantic occurred during World War Two primarily off the coast 

of North Carolina. The Battle of the Atlantic report summarizes the activities 

of 8 years of continued research and field operations with a brief accounting of 

the chronological progression of operations, developing methodologies and 

technologies employed. The report provides an environmental and historic context 

necessary for understanding the individual sites offshore North Carolina that were 

identified and studied by the project. The result of the project is an inventory of 

sites identified. Ninety-one individual vessel losses constitute all the known (both 

located and historically reported) casualties off the North Carolina coast during 

WWII. These vessels area documented in detail using historic and underwater 

forensic photography, multibeam bathymetry, side scan sonar acoustic imaging, 

and other technologies. 

Findings

■ Catalogue of 91 vessels 

including 79 merchant vessels, 

8 Allied military vessels, and 

4 German U-boats.

■ Discovery of the German 

Unterseeboot (U-boat) U-576.

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ Ensure that authorized activities 

such as offshore wind development 

avoids the shipwrecks.

■ Provide information to support 

listing of historic properties.

Additional information

Final report:

Battle of the Atlantic

Conducted by: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Monitor 

National Marine Sanctuary with multiple contributors*

Key Researchers: 

J. Hoyt, J. Bright, W. Hoffman, B. Carrier, D. Marx, N. Richards, 

W. Sassaorossi, K. Davis, J. Wagner, J. McCord

Funded by: 

BOEM and NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program

* Including NPS Submerged Resources Center; State of North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Coastal Studies Institute (UNC-CSI), and East Carolina 

University’s (ECU) Program in Maritime Studies; and citizen scientists, such as the Battle of the Atlantic Research and Expedition Group (BAREG). 

Photo: Processed multibeam point cloud of U-576 in plan and profile view
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 6 

New York Collaborative Archaeological Survey

BOEM has issued a commercial wind energy lease offshore New York (OCS-A 0512) and, at the time of this study, was planning for 

additional areas suitable for wind energy development within the New York Bight. Geophysical surveys and historical records are 

used to identify potential archaeological sites, however, these methods may include locations that are not historical. 

BOEM requires avoidance of at least 50 meters from these potential historic locations and absent confirmation that the target 

has historic value, will err on the side of precaution. Identified geophysical targets (e.g., side-scan sonar contacts and magnetic 

anomalies) in these areas may prove to be archaeological resources that should be avoided, or they may prove not to be resources 

and therefore should not prevent development within a specific area of the seafloor. Ten potential sites were investigated during 

the summer of 2019 in the New York Bight.

Conducted by: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Monitor 

National Marine Sanctuary

Key Researchers: 

W. Hoffman, J. Hoyt, W. Sassorossi

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ Four of the ten targets 

investigated were confirmed to be 

archaeological sites, and the study 

recommends avoidance buffers 

and additional investigation for 

these sites.

■ Five targets do not warrant 

further investigation, while one 

wreck was not found.

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ Reduce the impact of 

wind energy development on 

archaeological sites by identifying 

their location and providing a zone 

for avoidance.

■ Assist BOEM in considering the 

effects of its activities on cultural 

resources under the National Historic 

Preservation Act and National 

Environmental Policy Act.

Additional information

Final report:

New York Collaborative 

Archaeological Survey

Photo: Wood frames on wreck site of Irma C.

Photo: Remains of a windlass on wreck site of Irma C.

Illustration: Coal barge
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 7 

Coastal High Frequency Radar Wind Turbine 

Interference Mitigation

Coastal high frequency radars (HFR) are used to make high spatial and temporal resolution measurements of sea surface currents 

over large observation areas. In the U.S., a network of HFR stations maintained in partnership with the U.S. Integrated Ocean 

Observing System (IOOS) monitors ocean currents across much of the outer continental shelf in U.S. Waters. Observations from 

HFR radar are used by the Coast Guard’s to aid in search and rescue. Wind turbines offshore will interfere with the radar resulting 

in less accurate measure of currents. A previous study examined the interference using the wind turbines at Block Island Wind 

Farm and a Seasonde instrument located on Block Island. This study uses the results to develop a software solution to reduce the 

interference from offshore wind facilities. 

Conducted by:

CODAR Ocean 

Sensors Ltd.

Key Researchers: 

D.Trockel, J. Trockel,

C. Whelan

Funded by:

BOEM

Findings

■ Wind farms are within line of site of 36 radar systems, indicating that they 

will generate interference to these radars under normal atmospheric conditions.

■ Interference in the signal can be significantly reduced using a 

software solution.

How BOEM will use this information

■ Mitigation for the interference will include this software solution.

■ Ensure the community is aware of the software solution.

Additional information

Final report:

Coastal High Frequency Radar Wind Turbine Interference Mitigation

Photo: Range-Doppler spectra at the Block Island test site running with a sweep rate of 4 Hz and a Doppler FFT length of 4096.

The top image shows the cross spectra before being cropped. The bottom image shows the spectra after being cropped by the cropping software.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 8 

Electromagnetic Field Impacts on American Eel Movement 

and Migration from Direct Current Cables

Many marine species use either magnetic fields for navigation or electric fields for finding prey. Offshore wind development 

requires cables to transmit electricity from the turbines to shore where it connects with local power grids. These cables may 

use either alternative current (AC) or direct current (DC) to transmit the electricity. Although the cables have shielding and are 

generally buried, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are emitted from the cable. In general, AC cables transmit less electricity than 

DC cables and therefore the EMFs are less. This study examined the interactions between the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) 

with a DC cable, the Cross Sound Cable in Long Island Sound. The eel is known to use magnetic fields for migrating and migrates 

through the area of the Cross Sound Cable. The eels were tagged and tracked as they migrated past the cable. The EMF was 

measured using the Swedish Electromagnetic Field Low-Noise Apparatus.

Conducted by: 

University of Rhode Island

Key Researchers: 

Z. l. Hutchison, P. Sigray, 

A. B. Gill, T. Michelot, J. King

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ The eels responded to the DC cable electromagnetic field.

■ The interaction did not result in a barrier to migration.

How BOEM will use this information

■ Results will inform environmental assessments of future offshore 

wind development.

■ Identify additional information needs particularly for cumulative impacts.

Additional information

Final report:

Electromagnetic Field Impacts on American Eel Movement and Migration from 

Direct Current Cables

Electromagnetic Field Low-Noise Apparatus used for measuring EMF from cables. 

E’s mark the location of the six electrodes,

F indicates the location of the fluxgate sensor,

C is the cylindrical casing where the subsea electronics were stored,

U the cable that connected the SEMLA with the boat unit. 

Image from Hutchison et al., (2018)
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 9 

Conducted by:

HDR

Key Researchers: 

J. L. Amaral, K. Ampela, A. S. Frankel, A. A. Khan, Y.-T. Lin, T. Mason, 

J. H. Miller, A. E. Newhall, G. R. Potty

Funded by: 

BOEM

Field Observations During Offshore Wind Structure 

Installation and Operation, Volume I

As part of the Real-Time Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) Study, underwater sound was 

measured during the installation of two wind turbines as part of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. Through 

coordination with the operator and NOAA, an experiment was conducted that allowed for the measurement of sound from one 

turbine while a bubble curtain was used for to reduce the sound, and from a turbine without the bubble curtain. Using a variety 

of instruments that were placed near the installation location and also a variety of techniques to make measurements up to 30 

kilometers from the installation, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the bubble curtain was made. 

Findings

■ The bubble curtain reduced the 

sound (peak pressure) from 4.2 to 

23.1 dB depending on the distance. 

■ The effectiveness of the noise 

reduction at CVOW was dependent 

on sound frequency.

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ Results will inform 

environmental assessments of future 

offshore wind development.

■ Provide information about 

the use of mitigation measures 

such as bubble curtains and their 

effectiveness.

Additional information

Final report:

Field Observations During Offshore 

Wind Structure Installation and 

Operation

Photo: Double bubble curtain around a monopile foundation during installation at CVOW.

Photo: Deploying instruments for acoustic measurements.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 10 

Key Researchers: 

Louis Steinbrecher, David Stalfort, Lars Samuelsson, Xiaohong Chen, 

Susan Nourse

Conducted by:

ABSG Consulting Inc.

Funded by: 

BOEM

Photo: Examples of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine designs.

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Development Assessment

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are proposed for water depths greater than about 60 meters, which is common near 

shore along the Pacific, but also some locations on the Atlantic such as the Gulf of Maine. This assessment of FOWTs reviewed 

the current state of knowledge regarding technology and environmental considerations worldwide. It includes a comprehensive 

list of all current floating wind projects as well as ongoing research activities. The report assessed structural design and dynamic 

modeling, mooring and anchoring designs, dynamic power cable systems, fabrication and installation methods, fabrication 

facilities, and current modeling efforts. Three broad categories of environmental issues unique to FOWTs were identified focusing 

on potential US sites.

Findings

■ Loss of access to shipping grounds, negatively impacting both displaced fishers and the areas to which those 

fishers are displaced.

■ Shipping/Navigational hazards, including the need to alter shipping routes to avoid the risk of collision/allision.

■ Impacts of the FOWTs on pelagic life, namely entanglement, habitat displacement, spill risks, and noise impacts.

How BOEM will use this information

■ Management of offshore wind energy leases. 

■ Environmental and technical review of proposed offshore wind facilities that utilize floating technology.

Additional information

Final report:

Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Development Assessment
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 11 

Hydrodynamic Modeling, Particle Tracking and Agent-Based 

Modeling of Larvae in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight

Offshore wind projects have the potential to alter local and regional physical oceanic processes, via their influence on currents 

from turbine foundations and by extracting energy from the wind. Hydrodynamic modeling (HDM), particle tracking modeling 

and Agent-Based Models (ABMs) were used to assess how the introduction of commercial scale offshore wind energy facilities in 

the Massachusetts-Rhode Island (MA-RI) marine areas may affect local and regional oceanic responses (e.g. currents, temperature 

stratification) and related larval transport under typical seasonal conditions. The HDM and ABM were developed, calibrated, and 

verified against a range of observed oceanographic and survey data to demonstrate that related conditions prior to offshore 

wind construction were well represented by the integrated model. Four build out scenarios and three focal species were 

selected for investigation. 

Conducted by:

DHI Water & Environment, Inc.

Key Researchers: 

T. L. Johnson, J. J. van Berkel, L. O. Mortensen, M. A. Bell, I. Tiong,

B. Hernandez, D. B. Snyder, F. Thomsen, O. S. Petersen

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ Structures do modify oceanic 

responses by the extraction of 

energy from the wind by the 

OSW turbines.

■ Changes in currents lead to 

varying degrees of discernible 

increases and decreases in larval 

settlement density across scenarios.

■ At a regional fisheries 

management level, these shifts are 

not considered overly relevant with 

regards to larval settlement.

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ Improve assessments of 

the impacts of offshore wind 

development on larvae and 

sediment dispersion.

■ Evaluation of cumulative 

impacts of multiple wind facilities 

on oceanic processes in the 

Massachusetts-Rhode Island 

lease areas.

Additional information

Final report:

Hydrodynamic Modeling, Particle 

Tracking and AgentBased 049 

Modeling of Larvae in the U.S. 

MidAtlantic Bight

Photo: Sketch of large turbulent flow around the monopile structure.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 12 

Conducted by: 

Avanti Corporation and 

Industrial Economics, Inc.

Key Researchers: 

Avanti Team

Funded by: 

BOEM

National Environmental Policy Act Documentation 

for Impact-Producing Factors in the Offshore Wind 

Cumulative Impacts Scenario on the South Atlantic Outer 

Continental Shelf

Findings

■ Identifies the important cause-and-effect relationships between renewable 

energy projects and potentially affected resources.

■ Identifies the types of actions and activities to include in the cumulative 

impacts scenario.

■ Identifies past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions and 

activities in the North Atlantic OCS to consider in future NEPA cumulative 

impact scenarios.

■ Provides guidance on and information sources for identifying relevant past, 

present, and reasonably foreseeable actions for each action/activity.

How BOEM will use this information

■ BOEM will use this scenario in environmental impact statements to ensure 

consistent assessment of impacts from offshore wind facilities. 

Additional information:

Final report:

National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Impact-Producing 

Factors in the Offshore Wind Cumulative Impacts Scenario on the South Atlantic 

Outer Continental Shelf

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) guidance for evaluating 

cumulative effects specifies the need 

to include all relevant past, present, 

and reasonably foreseeable future 

actions and to focus on truly meaningful 

effects. Agencies are charged with 

developing action- or activity-specific 

cumulative impacts scenarios in 

accordance with this general guidance. 

Considering expected growth in 

renewable energy projects offshore 

from North Carolina to Florida, the 

purpose of this document is to establish 

a common cumulative impacts scenario 

framework for use in NEPA analyses 

for offshore wind activities on the 

South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS). This will enable efficient and 

effective identification of relevant 

actions for the cumulative effects 

analyses, and the development of 

consistent, succinct NEPA documents 

that demonstrate sound logic for 

cumulative effects findings. 

Cumulative Impact Diagram
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 13 

Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species: 

FY15 - FY19

The Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) is a comprehensive multiagency research program 

on the U.S. Atlantic outer continental shelf, from Maine to the Florida Keys, covering waters from the coast to beyond the U.S. 

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The overarching goal of AMAPPS is to assess the abundance, distribution, ecology, and behavior 

of marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds throughout the U.S. Atlantic outer continental shelf and to evaluate these data 

within an ecosystem context where the results are accessible to managers, scientists and the public. Because marine ecosystems 

are complex and involve dynamic assemblages of many coexisting species, to understand these marine ecosystem processes and 

achieve the AMAPPS objectives, our research integrates cross-taxonomic groups across multiple trophic levels and uses a suite 

of data collection and analytical techniques. Researchers conducted 31 projects that collected visual detections from aerial and 

shipboards surveys, passive acoustic detections, animal-borne tag locations, dive pattern data, and direct and indirect samples of 

the physical and biological oceanic ecosystem.

Conducted by: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, 

National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and 

Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Key Researchers: D. Palka, L. Aichinger Dias, E. Broughton, S. Chavez-Rosales, D. Cholewiak, G. Davis, A. DeAngelis, 

L. Garrison, H. Haas, J. Hatch, K. Hyde, M. Jech, E. Josephson, L. Mueller-Brennan, C. Orphanides, N. Pegg, C. Sasso, 

D. Sigourney, M. Soldevilla, H. Walsh

Funded by: 

BOEM, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

U.S. Navy

Findings

■ Expanded knowledge about the 

distribution, abundance, and habitat 

usage of protected species.

■ Developing new techniques and 

models to estimate abundance trends. 

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ Preparation of environmental 

assessments of the impact of offshore 

wind development along the Atlantic.

■ Development of mitigation 

measures to minimize impacts to 

protected species.

Additional information: 

Program website:

fisheries.noaa.gov

Final report:

Atlantic Marine Assessment Program 

for Protected Species: FY15 – FY19

Photo: Northern portion of the AMAPPS study area.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 14 

Ecological Baseline Studies of the US Outer Continental Shelf

Conducted by:

Normandeau Associates, Inc. 

and APEM, Inc.

Key Researchers: 

J. Robinson Willmott, G. Forcey, M. Vukovich, S. McGovern, J. Clerc, 

J. Carter

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ A total of 185,983 animals were identified by taxonomic experts including 148,074 birds, 4,191 marine mammals, 3,049 

turtles, 3,034 sharks, 23,380 rays, and 4,255 large bony fishes. Some highlights:

○ 64 species birds, most common groups: phalaropes (25%), gulls (24%), and loons (17%).

○ Four species of turtles.

○ 99% of all marine mammals were dolphins.

○ 93% of all rays were cownose rays.

○ Of the 60% of fish (n=2,556) that were ascribed to species, mahi-mahi was the most abundant (n=1,803).

■ Bird densities were the greatest during the winter months (December & February) and lowest in the late spring and 

early summer months. Turtle density decreased in the northern parts for the survey during winter and increased during the 

warmer months. 

How BOEM will use this information

■ Evaluate impacts for potential offshore wind development prior to leasing.

■ Inform environmental assessments of impacts from offshore wind facilities.

Additional information:

Final report: Ecological Baseline Studies of the US Outer Continental Shelf

Project website: Remote Marine and Onshore Technology

Data: Ecological Baseline Studies of the U.S. OCS Option Year 1 & Ecological Baseline Studies of the U.S. OCS Option Year 2 

Baseline data of wildlife distribution 

and abundance is important to collect 

prior to offshore wind development. 

Data are used to identify natural trends 

and fluctuations in species’ abundance 

and distribution, which helps interpret 

changes in wildlife patterns after any 

development. High-resolution (1.5 cm 

at the ocean’s surface) aerial digital 

surveys were conducted over a two 

year period off the coasts of North and 

South Carolina in three wind energy 

areas —Wilmington East, Wilmington 

West, and Kitty Hawk—plus the Grand 

Photo: Aerial digital survey of loggerhead sea turtle and bonaparte’s gulls

Strand Call Area. Eight high-resolution aerial digital surveys were conducted in 

February 2018 & 2020, May/June 2018, May 2019, October 2018, September 2019, and 

December 2018 & 2019. Images from each survey were reviewed using a combination 

of automated and manual processes with identification to the lowest taxonomic level 

possible. Abundance data were corrected for the differences in level of effort among 

surveys providing densities by km2. This allowed meaningful comparisons among 

seasons when survey effort was different.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 15 

Megafauna Aerial Surveys in the Wind Energy Areas 

of Massachusetts and Rhode Island with Emphasis on 

Large Whales

Conducted by: 

New England Aquarium

Key Researchers: 

O. O’Brien, K. McKenna,

D. Pendleton, J. Redfern

Funded by: 

BOEM and Massachusetts 

Clean Energy Center

Findings

■ The study area includes seasonal aggregations of protected species of 

whales and sea turtles.

■ Early surveys (2011-2015) showed that North Atlantic right whales 

(Eubalaena glacialis), a critically endangered species, occurred in the study 

area during winter and spring; more recent surveys (2017-2020) show that right 

whales occur in the study area in all seasons.

How BOEM will use this information

■ Inform environmental assessments of construction and operations plans for 

offshore wind.

Additional information:

Surveys in 2018-2019: Megafauna Aerial Surveys in the Wind Energy Areas of 

Massachusetts and Rhode Island with Emphasis on Large Whales: Summary 

Report

Surveys in 2020: Megafuna Aerial Surveys in the Wind Energy Areas of 

Massachusetts and Rhode Island with Emphasis on Large Whales: Interim Report 

Photo: Humpback whales observed bubble-net feeding on June 4, 2020

Beginning in October 2011, the 

Massachusetts Clean Energy 

Center funded aerial surveys of the 

Massachusetts wind energy area. 

BOEM joined this effort in 2012 and 

extended the surveys to include the 

Rhode Island Massachusetts area. 

Monthly surveys have continued with 

these two reports, Campaign 5 covering 

October 2018 to August 2019 and 

Campaign 6A from March to October 

2020. The surveys use a combination 

of observers and cameras to collect 

information about the distribution and 

abundance of whales, dolphins, and 

sea turtles. Sampling for temperature, 

salinity, and zooplankton was conducted 

to address ecological questions. 
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 16 

Optimization of Towed Passive Acoustic Monitoring 

(PAM) Array Design and Performance Study 

(Passive Acoustic Monitoring Study)

Conducted by: 

CSA Ocean Sciences Inc.

Key Researchers: 

A. Thode, S. Abadie, 

M.J. Barkaszi

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ A software package and user 

manual available for use to evaluate 

proposed PAM systems.

■ The uncertainty in range 

estimation is dominated by the 

uncertainty in array element position. 

How BOEM will use 

this information

■ To assess the localization efficacy 

of towed PAM arrays proposed in 

mitigation and monitoring plans.

Additional information:

Final report:

Optimization of Towed Passive 

Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Array 

Design and Performance Study 

(Passive Acoustic Monitoring Study)

Photo: Spectrogram of three baleen whale vocalizations used for 

testing the algorithm developed for this project

A numerical model for simulating the localization performance of a three- or fourhydrophone towed passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) array on multiple species 

clusters was developed. The model will allow BOEM to assess the ability of towed PAM 

arrays to determine the position of vocalizing marine species. The ability to localize 

a marine mammal call using PAM systems commonly deployed for mitigation surveys 

requires several conditions and assumptions. In order to localize, the call must first 

be detected. A detection’s range will be dictated by the received amplitude of the 

signal, which in turn depends on the species, distance, and relative orientation to 

the receiver, as well as the noise conditions of the monitoring environment. The goal 

of this project is to develop an algorithm and user interface to input proposed array 

specifications and determine the theoretical localization capability for low-, mid-, and 

high-frequency cetaceans within 5 km of the array.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 17 

Risk Assessment to Model Encounter Rates between Large 

Whales and Vessel Traffic from Offshore Wind Energy 

on the Atlantic OCS

Vessel strikes during the planning for and construction of offshore wind facilities are evaluated in support of environmental 

assessments by BOEM. This study developed a model and calculator to estimate the potential strikes in wind lease areas along 

the Atlantic coast. Vessel strikes happen when encounters between a vessel and an animal occur and the animal or vessel fails 

to detect one another in time to react and avoid a collision. Variables that contribute to the likelihood of a strike include vessel 

speed, vessel size and type, the species behavior, and barriers to vessel detection by an animal (e.g., acoustic masking, heavy 

traffic, biologically focused activity). In some cases, mitigation measures such as the use of lookouts and time/area speed 

restrictions may be in place to reduce the risk associated with the vessel operation.

Conducted by: 

CSA Ocean Sciences Inc.

Key Researchers: 

M.J. Barkaszi, M. Fonseca,

T. Foster, A. Malhotra, K. Olsen

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ A model to estimate vessel strikes in wind leases along the Atlantic including 

a calculator and user manual.

■ Additional interpretation and analysis may be required to quantify the 

effectiveness of mitigation intended to avert or reduce that risk.

How BOEM will use this information

■ Improve assessment and visualization of vessel strike risk across wind energy 

areas on the Atlantic coast.

■ Support analyses in environmental assessments.

Additional information:

Final report:

Risk Assessment to Model Encounter Rates Between Large Whales and Sea Turtles 

and Vessel Traffic from Offshore Wind Energy on the Atlantic OCS

Photo: Whale tail in front of vessel and wind farm.
2021 Atlantic Science Year in Review | | 18 

Improving Monitoring, Data Consistency, Archiving, and 

Access for Improved Regional Integration of Renewable 

Energy Science 

Conducted by:

Consensus Building Institute

Key Researchers: 

K. Baker, D. Bigger, M. Cody, S.P. Van Parijs, E. Staaterman, P. Loring, 

E. Shumchenia

Funded by: 

BOEM

Findings

■ Participants reviewed and agreed to a proposed regional 

monitoring design. 

■ For avian species, while the discussion uncovered the need for new tools 

and systems, most participants advocated for the use of existing tools and 

systems to expedite the use of standardized workflows.

How BOEM will use this information

■ Work towards implementing a regional monitoring design for PAM.

■ Continue to support existing tools and systems in place for the collection of 

avian data.

Additional information:

Final report: 

Workshop Summary on Passive Acoustic Monitoring and Marine Mammals 

June 2-3, 2021

Workshop Summary on Avian Telemetry June 29-30, 2021

The Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management convened two workshops 

in 2021 bringing together subject matter 

experts and other invited stakeholders 

to develop wildlife data standards. The 

meetings were planned in coordination 

with the Regional Wildlife Science 

Collaborative (RWSC) to improve regional 

collaboration and science conducted 

for offshore wind. The workshop on 

passive acoustic monitoring (or PAM) 

of marine mammals was planned in 

coordination with the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration. The 

workshop on satellite tracking of birds 

in the offshore marine environment was 

planned in coordination with the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service. The workshops 

discussed key data standard topics with 

stakeholders including data collections 

methods; metadata requirements, 

storage, archival and maintenance; and 

data products. The workshop reports 

discuss stakeholder perspectives and key 

outcomes from each of the workshops.

Workshop Summary 

on Passive Acoustic 

Monitoring and 

Marine Mammals 

June 2-3, 2021 

Workshop Summary 

on Avian Telemetry 

June 29-30, 2021
What’s Next

Here are a few of the new and continuing studies that are underway:

Marine bird distributions may shift within leases of different durations due 

to regional changes in oceanographic conditions and could make certain 

species more vulnerable to energy-related activities. Working with NOAA, 

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, this study is using the Northwest 

Atlantic Seabird Catalog to evaluate species shifts. 

[Expected completion: 2022]

Impact of noise during construction of offshore wind projects on commercially 

important fish is a concern all along the Atlantic coast. This study will examine 

behavioral effects of sound sources from offshore renewable energy 

construction on the black sea bass (Centropristis striata) and longfin inshore 

squid (Doryteuthis pealeii). 

[Expected completion: 2022]

The North Atlantic right whale is a critically endangered species whose range 

extends from Canada to the coast off Georgia. One stressor is food availability, 

especially in the Gulf of Maine. This study supports monitoring of a primary 

food source for the whales, Calanus finmarchicus. BOEM will use the results 

when evaluating the cumulative impacts to NARW.

[Expected completion: 2022]