A current synthesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrates

Albert, Luana; Deschamps, François; Jolivet, Aurélie; Olivier, Frédéric; Chauvaud, Laurent; Chauvaud, Sylvain

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104958

Cited by 31 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 108 publications

(143 reference statements)

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“…The probability of an encounter with an EMF depends on the animal's movement and distribution, life stage, and spatiotemporal use of the environment where the EMF occurs [44,46,47]. Individual species' responses may include altered avoidance or attraction behavior, and a variety of other behavioral, physiological, developmental, and genetic responses [44,[48][49][50].…”

Section: Risk To Animals From Electromagnetic Fields (Emfs) Emitted By Mre Cablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science

Copping

Hemery

Overhus

et al. 2020

JMSE

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Marine renewable energy (MRE) harnesses energy from the ocean and provides a low-carbon sustainable energy source for national grids and remote uses. The international MRE industry is in the early stages of development, focused largely on tidal and riverine turbines, and wave energy converters (WECs), to harness energy from tides, rivers, and waves, respectively. Although MRE supports climate change mitigation, there are concerns that MRE devices and systems could affect portions of the marine and river environments. The greatest concern for tidal and river turbines is the potential for animals to be injured or killed by collision with rotating blades. Other risks associated with MRE device operation include the potential for turbines and WECs to cause disruption from underwater noise emissions, generation of electromagnetic fields, changes in benthic and pelagic habitats, changes in oceanographic processes, and entanglement of large marine animals. The accumulated knowledge of interactions of MRE devices with animals and habitats to date is summarized here, along with a discussion of preferred management methods for encouraging MRE development in an environmentally responsible manner. As there are few devices in the water, understanding is gained largely from examining one to three MRE devices. This information indicates that there will be no significant effects on marine animals and habitats due to underwater noise from MRE devices or emissions of electromagnetic fields from cables, nor changes in benthic and pelagic habitats, or oceanographic systems. Ongoing research to understand potential collision risk of animals with turbine blades still shows significant uncertainty. There has been no significant field research undertaken on entanglement of large animals with mooring lines and cables associated with MRE devices.

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Section: Risk To Animals From Electromagnetic Fields (Emfs) Emitted By Mre Cablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science

Copping

Hemery

Overhus

et al. 2020

JMSE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…EMFs from generators and cables associated with ME devices may be detected by some marine species, but significant uncertainty remains about their effects on species physiology [127][128][129] and behavior [127,130]. The physics of EMFs is well understood and can be modeled using analytical equations or numerical simulations, but so far applications have been constrained to simplified settings.…”

Section: Electromagnetic Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Monitoring and Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Short-term field and laboratory observations have been made of behavioral and physiological responses to EMFs [127,137]. Findings of behavioral studies have been variable and inconclusive as a whole [127] and there are no models to validate yet. Laboratory studies must take care to match the intensities, frequencies, and temporal patterns of EMF exposure that animals might encounter in the field.…”

Section: Monitoring and Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Field studies of behavior have been challenging given the range of species, habitats, and behavior to address, coupled with the difficulty of measuring EMF intensity without disruption of the nearby organisms. As with any behavioral study, it can be difficult to determine the causes of behavior, and adequate replication and randomization are necessary but rare [127].…”

Section: Monitoring and Model Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy

Buenau

Garavelli

Hemery

et al. 2022

JMSE

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Understanding the environmental effects of marine energy (ME) devices is fundamental for their sustainable development and efficient regulation. However, measuring effects is difficult given the limited number of operational devices currently deployed. Numerical modeling is a powerful tool for estimating environmental effects and quantifying risks. It is most effective when informed by empirical data and coordinated with the development and implementation of monitoring protocols. We reviewed modeling techniques and information needs for six environmental stressor–receptor interactions related to ME: changes in oceanographic systems, underwater noise, electromagnetic fields (EMFs), changes in habitat, collision risk, and displacement of marine animals. This review considers the effects of tidal, wave, and ocean current energy converters. We summarized the availability and maturity of models for each stressor–receptor interaction and provide examples involving ME devices when available and analogous examples otherwise. Models for oceanographic systems and underwater noise were widely available and sometimes applied to ME, but need validation in real-world settings. Many methods are available for modeling habitat change and displacement of marine animals, but few examples related to ME exist. Models of collision risk and species response to EMFs are still in stages of theory development and need more observational data, particularly about species behavior near devices, to be effective. We conclude by synthesizing model status, commonalities between models, and overlapping monitoring needs that can be exploited to develop a coordinated and efficient set of protocols for predicting and monitoring the environmental effects of ME.

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No evidence for collateral effects of electromagnetic fields used to increase dissolved oxygen levels on the behavior and physiology of freshwater fishes

Elvidge

Bihun

Davis

et al. 2022

Water Environment Research

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Hypoxia in surface waters driven by warming climate and other anthropogenic stressors is a major conservation concern, and technological solutions for water quality remediation are sorely needed. One potential solution involves the use of low‐intensity electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to increase dissolved oxygen levels, but potential collateral effects of the EMFs on aquatic animals have not been formally evaluated. We examined the effects of EMF exposure on wild‐caught, captive sunfish (Lepomis spp.) over 8‐day and 3‐day exposures, with and without aeration in mesocosms and stock tanks (respectively). We also quantified ambient fish abundance in close proximity to EMF devices deployed in Opinicon Lake (ON). We found no significant differences in a suite of blood‐based stress physiology biomarkers, behaviors, and putative aerobic capacities between EMF and control conditions over 8 days. Aerated mesocosms equipped with activated EMFs consistently had higher oxygen levels in the water than aerated controls. There were no differences in mortality during 3‐day oxygen depletion trials under EMF or control conditions, and we detected no differences in fish abundance when the devices were activated in the lake. Our findings suggest that deploying EMF devices in field settings is not likely to exert negative effects on exposed fish populations. Practitioner Points Low‐cost, low‐energy technological solutions to remediate aquatic hypoxia are sorely needed Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can increase oxygen flux across air/water interfaces and increase dissolved oxygen levels We found no evidence of negative effects of EMFs on fish physiology or behavior and our results support their use in alleviating hypoxic conditions

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A current synthesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrates

Abstract: Title A current synthesis on the effects of magnetic and electric fields emitted by submarine power cables on invertebrate species Short title Effects of magnetic and electric fields on marine invertebrates Article type

Cited by 31 publications

References 108 publications

Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science

Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science

A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy

No evidence for collateral effects of electromagnetic fields used to increase dissolved oxygen levels on the behavior and physiology of freshwater fishes

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