Earlier today German Radio reported that an uusually large number of dead whales have washed up on the North German Baltic beaches over the last 2 weeks.
Now some believe that a newly installed Baltic 1 offshore windpark (see map) consisting of 21 2.3-MW turbines may be responsible, according to reports.
I searched the Internet for more information, but the story appears to be bottled up for now. The online dnews.de has a small report.
It writes that according to the German Marine Museum, 12 cadavers have appeared so far. According to whale researcher Stefan Bräger:
This high frequency is extraordinary. It is unclear what the cause of death could be, and it cannot be determined due to the extent the whales are decomposed. Researchers believe that it’s due to biological reasons. Young whales and mothers are especially vulnerable shortly after birth. They do not exclude the possibility that the construction of the windpark near the Darss peninsula may have been a factor.
The windpark was just completed and is operated by energy giant EnBW.
This video link here is an animation of how the windpark was constructed. The video shows how huge mono-piles with a wall thickness of 100 mm are pounded into the seabed. That certainly cannot be very pleasant for any marine wildlife nearby, and certainly represents a major disturbance of habitat.
The issue of ramming huge piles into the seabed is becoming increasingly controversial in the installation of offshore windparks.
According to the Director of the German Marine Museum in Stralsund, Harald Benke, in this n-tv report here:
Whales whose hearing is disrupted or permanently damaged by noise are basically sentenced to death because they are no longer able to orient themselves.
And according to Kristin Blasche of the Federal Ministry For Maritime Shipping And Hydrography:
It has been determined that during pile driving work for offshore windparks – when the foundation is anchored to the seabed – extremely intense shock waves are produced under water.
Update / More here: http://www.neuepresse.de/Nachrichten/Magazin/Uebersicht/Ungewoehnlich-viele-tote-Schweinswale-an-Ostseekueste
Imagine the noises Greenpeace would make if the same number of whales were killed by an oil spill. Does anyone still believe the green hypocrites?
Sad and depressing that these fine animals are most likely being harmed and killed by these foolish wind projects.
Where is Greenpeace when you actually need them? Didn’t they used to work to protect whales?
WWF and the usual wind energy profiteers drool about extension of Scotlands largest on-shore wind park.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-11215774
These “Green Groups” are basically finished!
Unfortunately, until their “donation scams” are permanently stopped we will have to put up with more of their eco-religious crap!
Perceived harm to whales from naval training has been used bu Greenpeace, WWF et al to limit US naval exercises and training.
It is indisputable that wind farms are bird killers, especially raptors. In the US we have a law, Migratory Bird Protection Act, that prohibits killing or harassing migratory (term includes virtually all avian species) birds. This law is not enforced against wind farms and those involved in their construction and maintenance.
What we have is corruption of law enforcement and the politicians who make enact them under the guise of saving the planet and its ecosystems. Total madness.
Why do i doubt we will be seeing the Sea Shepard’s up there ramming Wind Mills with there boats?
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