Thanks to the synergy among research institutions from Italy, Germany, Sweden, and Norway, BluEcho is dedicated to:

  • Enhancing Sustainability: Improving the sustainability of the shipping and wind farm industries.

  • Conserving Biodiversity: Preserving species biodiversity by assessing noise impacts on marine fauna.

  • Mitigating Noise: Evaluating the efficiency of various acoustic mitigation measures to reduce noise levels.

We employ a blend of numerical simulations, fieldwork, and desktop studies to gather crucial data for designing low-noise Marine Protected Areas. Our methods include:

  • Cutting-Edge Numerical Techniques: Reproducing sound from wind turbines and ship propellers.

  • 3D Real-Time Sound Maps: Using advanced models and in-house codes to create predictive maps.

  • Habitat Identification: Pinpointing habitats in non-tolerable sea conditions.

  • Mitigation Measures: Evaluating the effectiveness of slow-down or re-routing procedures and noise reduction devices, with a focus on the Hywind Tampen wind farm as a case study.

The project also delivers a thorough economic analysis of costs and benefits, coupled with marine spatial planning analysis:

  • Cost Effectiveness Analysis: Finding the best balance between noise reduction and economic cost minimization.

  • Investment and Variable Cost Analysis: Breaking down the cost components of noise reduction measures.

  • Accessibility: Making results broadly available to decision-making bodies and stakeholders, using marine data from Copernicus Marine Service and EMODnet.

Underwater scene with small fish swimming near the ocean floor, sunlight creating patterns on the sandy bottom.

Long-Term Impacts

  1. Develop New Decision-Support Tools: Contributing to innovative decision-making resources.

  2. Promote Policy Integration: Enhancing interconnectivity of policies among regional sea basins.

  3. Foster Cooperation: Encouraging collaboration, co-design, and alignment of activities with stakeholders beyond academia.

SBEP priority Area: PA1 - Planning and managing sea uses at the regional level

Sea-basins: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Polar Oceans

Countries: Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden

Partners: University of Trieste, UNITS, Italy (coordinator) - Havforskningsinsituttet, IMR, Norway - Chalmers tekniska högskola AB, Chalmers, Sweden - National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics, OGS, Italy - Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, AWI, Germany.

Flowchart illustrating a process involving workshops, data management, modeling, maps, and sea use studies with various phases and objectives.

Objectives:

OB1 - Investigate sound generation resulting from wind farms and marine traffic

OB2 - Assess detailed regional noise maps for all sea basins

OB3 - Assess impacts on selected marine taxa

OB4 - Evaluate the efficiency of mitigation measures

OB5 - Perform an economic analysis of costs and benefits coupled with a marine spatial planning assessment