The Irish Marine Acoustic Platform (IMAP) research project will establish Ireland's first systematic underwater acoustic monitoring program. This noise monitoring program will help protect marine life by identifying, managing, and mitigating underwater radiated noise (URN) pollution that can occur during the construction of offshore wind farms. 4d5p1

The project will record annual and seasonal variations in ambient sound levels in Irish coastal waters using hydrophones.

These devices will be strategically located around the Irish coastline, aligned with proposed marine development project locations. Through advanced analysis, modeling, and data infrastructure, the program will enable marine project developers to ensure a proper balance between the need to develop renewable energy and the conservation of marine biodiversity.

At the end of the research project, the data collected will be used to establish a baseline for underwater noise that will determine the project's feasibility. The IMAP project will also build expertise in a growing area of research and provide the underwater equipment needed for continued exploration.

The initiative, launched in April this year, will run until December 2028 and is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Marine Institute (MI), with the MaREI Centre at University College Cork (UCC) and Wind Energy Ireland as project partners.

Gerry Sutton, project director of IMAP at University College Cork, stated: “This acoustic baseline project will help ensure that Ireland’s green energy transition does not come at the cost of our marine ecosystems. It is a vital step toward responsible development and will help ensure that Ireland’s offshore expansion is done sustainably, minimizing ecological risks and reducing the carbon emissions that endanger marine life.”

Kerrie Sheehan, Director of Research, Innovation and Electricity at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, added: “SEAI is pleased to this project, which aligns with Ireland’s ambitious goals to expand the offshore wind sector in order to meet government targets for 2030 and 2050.

Co-funded by the Marine Institute, the project will investigate the potential impacts of underwater noise pollution from marine infrastructure on marine ecosystems. The data collected, along with an online research portal, will serve as a key resource for informed decision-making during the planning phase of marine projects. This initiative will help protect marine life while accelerating Ireland’s transition to clean energy.”