Assessment of Potential Impact of Electromagnetic Fields from Undersea Cable on Migratory Fish Behavior

Biological Effects of Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Fields at 27 GHz on Sperm Quality of <em>Mytilus galloprovincialis</em>

“…The percentage of epididymal sperm motility was significantly higher in the 1800 MHz group (p < 0.05). The morphologically normal spermatozoa rates were higher and the tail abnormality and total percentage abnormalities were lower in the 900 MHz group (p < 0.05) [9]. In another study conducted always on rats exposed to 900 MHz for 8 weeks, the Authors noticed a statistically significant decrease of epididymal sperm counts in the exposed group (p < 0.001), a significant decrease of sperm motility and a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the frequency percentage of dead spermatozoa [18].…”

“…Habitat destruction and overexploitation represent the greatest stressors to marine biodiversity, but excessive anthropization, including the installation of antennas or of repeaters, can also be a threat especially for reproduction of many species [8]. Consequently, artificial electromagnetic fields could impact on the ecological processes in sensitive species, such as spawning or feeding migrations, homing, predation and detection of sexual mates [9][10][11]. In particular, aquatic invertebrates seems to be sensitive to external factors, and their gametes may be involved at different levels of biological organization [12].…”

Biological Effects of Non-ionizing Electromagnetic Fields at 27 GHz on Sperm Quality of <em>Mytilus galloprovincialis</em>

“…Habitat destruction and overexploitation represent the greatest stressors to marine biodiversity, but excessive anthropization, including the installation of antennas or of repeaters, can also be a threat especially for reproduction of many species [8]. Consequently, artificial electromagnetic fields could impact on the ecological processes in sensitive species, such as spawning or feeding migrations, homing, predation and detection of sexual mates [9][10][11]. In particular, aquatic invertebrates seems to be sensitive to external factors, and their gametes may be involved at different levels of biological organization [12].…”

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

“…Submarine power cables produce both magnetic and electric fields that may either interact with the geomagnetic field or coexist independently (Otremba et al, 2019). Such artificial sources may mask or alter natural magnetic and electric cues, thereby impacting the ecological processes in sensitive species, such as spawning or feeding migrations, homing, predation, and detection of sexual mates (Klimley et al, 2016;Tricas and Gill, 2011;Öhman et al, 2007). Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the emissions of SPCs and their potential to cause attraction or repulsion, barriers to local movements or long-distance migrations, disorientation, or behavioural and physiological changes (reviewed in Fischer and Slater, 2010).…”

“…Organisms' survival is unaffected by SPCs' magnetic emissions (Bochert and Zettler, 2004). When considering behavioural responses, field studies mainly conducted on teleost fish species revealed no evidence that magnetic fields act as permanent barriers to long-range migrations of either Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), or European eel (Anguilla Anguilla) (Klimley et al, 2016;Öhman et al, 2007;Westerberg and Lagenfelt, 2008;Wyman et al, 2018). Testing the attraction-repulsion towards magnetic fields has been a goal for other studies, and these produced contrasting results between members of taxonomic groups (i.e., crustaceans, molluscs, fish, elasmobranchs, polychaetes) and different species (e.g., Bevelhimer et al, 2015Bevelhimer et al, , 2013Cada et al, 2011;Gill et al, 2009;Hutchison et al, 2018;Jakubowska et al, 2019;Scott et al, 2018).…”