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Updated guidance aims to protect sealife from underwater noise

News Item 2025

In support of targeted changes in the management of underwater noise to protect vulnerable sealife, JNCC has updated its marine mammal mitigation guidelines for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from explosive use and introduce new mitigation guidelines for when clearing unexploded ordinance (UXO) from the marine environment.  JNCC have also produced a new report examining the impacts of UXO clearance can have on the seabed.

In addition, JNCC, Natural England and the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, in their capacities as statutory and/or scientific advisors, have published a joint position on the use of quieter piling technology and noise abatement when constructing offshore wind farms.

A new joint position statement for clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO), announced by Government earlier this week, stipulates underwater clearance of UXO should be achieved through low-noise methods. The government also announced a new policy requiring developers to demonstrate they have made clear efforts to reduce underwater noise during the installation of offshore wind turbines. These will help accelerate the building of offshore clean energy projects, whilst also protecting vulnerable animals.

JNCC have responsibility for the provision of nature conservation advice in the offshore area, to support the management of activities to ensure the overall sustainability of the use of the marine environment. The Marine Management Team advise on the impacts of offshore industries including renewable energy, oil and gas, marine aggregate extraction, cable laying and Ministry of Defense activities, as well as fisheries and other human activities, on the marine environment.

 As well as minimising the harmful effects of loud explosions and pile driving on vulnerable marine species and commercially valuable fish stocks, these measures will help prevent construction delays caused by breaches in noise thresholds in special areas of protection, accelerating the building of offshore wind projects planned for 2025 onwards.   

Further, the government has partnered with The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme and representatives from the explosives and offshore wind industries to test and develop new, quieter clearance technologies for bomb clearance, and pilot proposed noise limits during offshore wind construction.

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