Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 5 Number 2: A Protocol for Implementing the Interim Population Consequences of Disturbance (PCoD) Approach...

Foreword

Our understanding of the effects of underwater noise and other disturbing activities on marine mammals, and of how to assess and quantify potential impacts, is rapidly evolving. The Steering Group for the Interim PCoD work emphasise that this framework is very much an interim measure, that is, the Interim PCoD approach has been developed to help developers, regulators and advisers working on offshore renewable energy projects now. It is expected that the framework will be further refined and built upon over time as more evidence becomes available. The Interim PCoD approach should be regarded as another tool among others already available for assessing potential impacts of disturbance on marine mammal populations. How appropriate it will be for use with particular projects and situations should be decided on a case by case basis. It is important that developers considering using the Interim PCoD approach seek advice from the SNCBs and/or regulators at an early stage.