Cumulative impacts of offshore wind and commercial vessels on harbour porpoise populations in Danish waters
Gallagher, C.A.; Frankish, C.; Teilmann, J.; Cordier, A.; Weller, F.; Nabe-Nielsen, J. (2026). Cumulative impacts of offshore wind and commercial vessels on harbour porpoise populations in Danish waters. Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, 690. Aarhus University, DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy: Aarhus. ISBN 978-87-7648-017-2. 41 pp.
https://dce.au.dk/en
Part of: Scientific Report from DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy. Aarhus University, DCE – Danish Centre for Environment and Energy: Aarhus. ISSN 2245-0203, more
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| Keywords |
Marine mammals
Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
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| Author keywords |
Strategic Cumulative Impact Assessment; Harbour porpoise; Offshore wind farms; Marine spatial planning |
| Authors | | Top |
- Gallagher, C.A.
- Frankish, C.
- Teilmann, J.
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- Cordier, A.
- Weller, F.
- Nabe-Nielsen, J.
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| Abstract |
This study assesses the cumulative effects of offshore wind farm (OWF) development and associated vessel traffic on harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) populations in the North Sea and Inner Danish Waters. Using the DEPONS agent-based model, we simulated porpoise behaviour and survival under realistic OWF construction and operation scenarios from 2020 through 2031. Despite incorporating noise from pile- driving, vessel activity, and potential beneficial prey changes, no population-level impacts were detected. Porpoise abundance and distribution remained stable, with seasonal patterns driven by natural cycles. These findings suggest that, under current development trajectories and mitigation practices, OWF expansion is compatible with harbour porpoise conservation. However, ongoing declines in the Belt Sea harbour porpoise population and unmodeled stressors highlight the need for adaptive management and broader cumulative impact assessments. |
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