Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

230 Chapter 9: The Marine Environment The status of underwater noise in Ireland’s marine environment is based on an analysis of the spatial and temporal patterns of sound sources, a modelling approach for impulsive noise and a risk-based approach for continuous noise. In 2022, threshold values for the spatial and temporal extent of underwater noise were agreed at an EU level (Borsani et al. , 2023). This has allowed Ireland to perform an assessment of the impacts of underwater noise. Vessel traffic is the main source of human-made continuous noise in the Irish marine environment. Impulsive noise includes sources such as percussive pile driving, seismic surveys, explosions and some sonar sources. Analysis of underwater noise using information from the OSPAR Impulsive Noise Registry indicates that Irish marine areas fall below agreed thresholds in the years assessed. Offshore energy Ireland has committed to achieving a target of at least 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity in its maritime area by 2030 within the Climate Action Plan 2024 (DECC, 2023). The plan also sets out a further commitment that up to 80% of Ireland’s electricity will be from renewable sources by 2030. Offshore renewable energy will play a significant role in advancing Ireland’s environmental commitments towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The process for developing this is included in the draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II, which was published for public consultation in April 2023 (DECC, 2023). It is important that the plan is closely aligned with the National Marine Planning Framework and the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, so that, in delivering energy, other relevant sectors operating in the maritime area and impacts on the marine environment will be considered. The government is also currently consulting on the development of planning guidance for offshore wind energy. These guidelines will help clarify the requirements and organisational roles under the Maritime Area Planning Act, as they relate to offshore wind energy for different public bodies, as well as the environmental factors that need to be considered. 5 www.gov.ie/en/publication/e00ec-marine-protected-areas/ (accessed 2 May 2024). 6 gov – Public Consultation on the Draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (SC-DMAP) (www.gov.ie) (accessed 16 May 2024). Developments must fully account for the relevant requirements of the WFD and MSFD. Where the potential for significant effects on water quality and biodiversity remains uncertain, even after mitigation measures have been applied, further environmental monitoring and research may be required. While not currently included in the draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II, the cumulative impacts from associated infrastructural and connection works must be fully considered. Where conflicts remain difficult to resolve, the overall benefit of the developments must be considered. The state is working to identify appropriate locations for offshore wind development in consultation with local communities and with consideration for other maritime activities, including fishing and seafood production, and sensitive or protected habitats. In 2023 an ecological sensitivity analysis of the western Irish Sea was undertaken as part of a screening for species and habitats that may need protection under forthcoming MPA legislation. It identified areas of comparatively higher and lower ecological sensitivity based on the best available scientific evidence while concurrently providing information that could inform planning decisions that need to be taken about the potential siting of offshore renewables infrastructure. 5 The views of the public are being sought through public consultation processes, for example on the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) proposal, published in May 2024. 6 This proposal represents the first time the DMAP forward planning process, set out in the Maritime Planning Act (2021), has been applied in Ireland and is focused on identifying the geographical areas for future offshore renewable energy development (Figure 9.12). A further ecological sensitivity analysis is being completed for the Celtic Sea in 2024 to align with the proposed South Coast Offshore Renewable Energy DMAP. This will ensure that protection of the marine environment is considered concurrently with the development of offshore renewables.