Speed Presentation 2024 Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting combined with NZMSS

Environmental risk assessment of offshore wind farm development on sharks and rays in Australia   (#194)

Jonathan M Werry 1 , Justin J Meager 2
  1. GHD, L4, 211 Victoria Square,, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. GHD, L7, Foundation Place, 3 South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia, Queensland, Australia

Offshore wind farms (OWFs) are at the forefront of the decarbonisation transition. However, the impacts of construction and operation of OWFs on sharks and rays are unknown in Australian waters, which are home to an estimated 314 species. Prioritised areas for OWF development in Australia overlap with known long-shore and across-shelf pathways and important habitat for sharks and rays. We use a precautionary environmental risk assessment framework to identify a set of species of potential concern and outline research priorities aimed at avoiding impacts. We also highlight the importance of more than a decade of research tracking multiple species of sharks and rays, which provides Australia with a unique position for collective approaches to assessing impacts.