Addressing the Whale in the Room: Offshore Wind Development & Rice’s Whales

Offshore wind energy development is making waves in the Gulf of Mexico with a second auction planned later this year. The first ever auction for offshore wind in the Gulf occurred in August 2023 with three lease areas totaling 301,746 acres up for grabs off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. In the end, only one lease received bids with renewable energy company RWE securing the lease area off Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Despite limited interest in the first lease sale, offshore wind developers have shown clear interest in additional auctions planned over the next several years.

If you've followed news about offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico, you may have heard about the Rice's whale, which gained distinction in 2021 as a unique species-and a critically endangered one at that, with likely fewer than 100 individuals remaining.

There are potential impacts to these and other marine wildlife to consider as the offshore wind industry expands in the Gulf of Mexico. Proper planning from the beginning is key to avoiding or minimizing those impacts.

Muddying the waters

During the process to determine the location of the first lease areas in the Gulf of Mexico, NWF and our partners provided guidance to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to avoid the areas where Rice's whales are most likely to be present. However, disinformation from offshore wind opponents continue to make claims about unlikely impacts to marine mammals, often leading to misinformation being shared by those with genuine concerns for wildlife.

At the same time, we are seeing efforts to remove Rice's whale protections during oil and gas leasing in the Gulf. This is understandably confusing to people who care about marine mammals and the health of the Gulf ecosystem.

This model of fear-mongering has been seen before with whale strandings on the East Coast. Continued focus on offshore wind as the culprit of these tragic whale deaths-when there is no evidence to support such claims-distracts from the important work of addressing their true causes, most notably vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement.

This is why clearly understanding what measures need to be in place to protect Rice's whales is essential for the future of responsible offshore wind development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Distilling the truth

A major threat to Rice's whales and other marine species around the world is climate change, which is already altering ocean conditions. Changing temperatures affect environmental cues related to the timing of migrations, influence breeding and foraging ranges, and change the location of prey.

Reducing carbon emissions by deploying responsibly developed offshore wind will ultimately benefit whales and other marine species-but it is not without risks. The primary threats offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Mexico poses to Rice's whales are underwater noise and vessel strikes.

Opponents of offshore wind on the Atlantic coast have claimed that survey activities are harming (and even killing) whales, yet there is no evidence to link large whale deaths to any offshore wind activities. In the Gulf of Mexico, where there is substantial existing energy infrastructure and activities, it is especially important to understand that the sounds produced by offshore wind surveying are less impactful and emit at far lower intensities than marine activities used in oil and gas or military applications.

Offshore wind activity will take place far from Rice's whale habitat and will be less generally impactful than oil and gas development. As offshore wind developers draft construction and operations plans in the coming years, NWF and our partners will advocate for risk reduction measures such as foundations that require less pile driving (or none at all), technology like bubble curtains to reduce construction noise, and limiting impactful activities during peak migration.

Vessel strikes threaten not only Rice's whales but other marine species such as sea turtles, Gulf sturgeon, and manta rays. Best estimates indicate that only one death every 15 years due to human impacts can occur if Rice's whales are to recover. Since these whales may spend a considerable amount of time at night within draft depths of most commercial vessels, collision risk is a credible threat.

Vessel speed restrictions can reduce the risk of fatal collisions. Trained observers and thermal detection systems can aid in identifying whales and other species so that proper precautions can be taken if there is a sighting.

Bubble curtains. Credit: North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters

Steering the ship on the path of least impact

Transitioning our nation's energy portfolio to one that is less reliant on fossil fuels not only improves our energy security but also reduces planet-warming emissions. Although no form of utility-scale energy generation is free from impacts, renewable energy such as offshore wind offers a valuable opportunity to reduce emissions over the long term.

The offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Mexico is still new, and it will likely be nearly a decade before projects come online. During this time, researchers will gather data and technology will be developed and refined to help ensure responsible development.

A transparent process with meaningful public engagement will help reduce the burden that has been disproportionately placed on the Gulf of Mexico from the impacts of fossil fuel development and will continue to steer this industry in the right direction.

All hands on deck

As this industry grows in the coming years, you can stay updated on opportunities to speak up for wildlife protections by signing up for NWF alerts.

To stay informed with the facts, learn what science says about offshore wind at offshorewindfacts.org.

Throughout the offshore wind development process, engagement from community organizations, Tribes, and other interested parties is critical to ensure this industry stays the course benefitting people and wildlife alike.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.