Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
On 9 April at 17:15, we’ll also hold the main poster session and distinguish the 7 best posters of this year’s edition with our traditional Poster Awards Ceremony. Join us at the poster area to cheer and meet the laureates, and enjoy some drinks with all poster presenters!
We look forward to seeing you there!
PO059: Overcoming challenges with assessing collision risk for offshore wind farms
Aonghais Cook, Marine Biodiversity Specialist, The Biodiversity Consultancy
Abstract
Avian collisions are currently seen as a key consenting risk for offshore wind farms, putting in jeopardy efforts to mitigate climate change through reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Collision risk is typically assessed as part of pre-construction Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) using a Collision Risk Model. These CRMs have been in use for over 40 years, and often play a key role in consenting decisions. However, there is substantial uncertainty surrounding the inputs to these models and the accuracy of their predictions. As the offshore wind industry continues to expand globally, new CRMs are being developed and applied. A lack of model validation and benchmarking contributes to considerable uncertainty surrounding the projected risks to vulnerable bird populations, and leads to concerns that decisions are not being made on the basis of the best available evidence. Focusing on the situation in the UK, we will highlight how projected cumulative collision risk is posing a significant consenting risk to the industry. We will discuss the role of uncertainty and precaution in these assessments, and highlight the potential risks to the industry as it continues to expand globally. Finally, we will argue that there is an urgent need for a global working group on collision risk to discuss these issues and develop a more robust approach for CRMs.
No recording available for this poster.
