Question

How are seabird collisions with WEC structures mitigated?

Accepted Answer

Mitigating seabird collisions with Wave Energy Converter (WEC) structures involves several strategies. First, careful site selection is important. Avoid placing WECs in areas with high concentrations of seabirds or along important migration routes. Second, WEC designs should minimize features that attract seabirds, such as flat, open surfaces that could be used for roosting. Third, WEC structures can be painted with colors that are less attractive to seabirds. Studies have shown that certain colors, such as orange and yellow, are more visible to seabirds and may deter them from approaching the structure. Fourth, bird deterrent devices, such as bird spikes or netting, can be installed on WEC structures to prevent seabirds from landing or roosting. Fifth, lighting on WEC structures should be minimized or shielded to reduce attraction to seabirds, especially at night. Use of downward-facing lights and avoidance of strobe lights are recommended. Sixth, radar systems can be used to detect the presence of seabirds near the WEC array and trigger alarms to alert operators to take action, such as temporarily shutting down the WECs or activating deterrent devices. Seventh, regular monitoring of the WEC array should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the mitigation measures and to identify any areas where collisions are occurring. Finally, data on seabird collisions should be reported to the relevant authorities and used to improve mitigation strategies.

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How are seabird collisions with WEC structures mitigated?