Do electromagnetic fields from subsea power cables effect benthic elasmobranch behaviour? A risk-

Abstract

Do electromagnetic fields from subsea power cables effect benthic elasmobranch behaviour? A risk- based approach for the Dutch Continental Shelf Hermans A, Winter HV, Gill AB, Murk AJ. Do electromagnetic fields from subsea power cables effect benthic elasmobranch behaviour? A risk-based approach for the Dutch Continental Shelf. Environ Pollut. 2024 Feb 13:123570. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123570. Abstract Subsea power cables cause electromagnetic fields (EMFs) into the marine environment. Elasmobranchs (rays, skates, sharks) are particularly sensitive to EMFs as they use electromagnetic-receptive sensory systems for orientation, navigation, and locating conspecifics or buried prey. Cables may intersect with egg laying sites, mating, pupping, and nursery grounds, foraging habitat and migration routes of elasmobranchs and the effects of encountering EMFs on species of elasmobranchs are largely unknown. Demonstrated behavioural effects are attraction, disturbance and indifference, depending on EMF characteristics, exposed life stage, exposure level and duration. We estimated exposure levels of elasmobranchs to subsea power cable EMFs, based on modelled magnetic fields in the Dutch Continental Shelf and compared these to reported elasmobranch sensory sensitivity ranges and experimental effect levels. We conclude that the risk from subsea power cables has a large uncertainty and varies per life stage and species ecology. Based on estimated no-observed effect levels (from 10-3 to 10-1 μT) we discuss what will probably be the most affected species and life stage for six common benthic elasmobranchs in the Southern North Sea. We then identify critical knowledge gaps for reducing the uncertainty in the risk assessments for EMFs effects on benthic elasmobranchs. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The authors modelled magnetic fields from subsea power cables on the Dutch Continental Shelf and compared estimated exposure levels with reported elasmobranch sensory sensitivity ranges and experimental effect levels. They conclude that risk from subsea power cables has large uncertainty and varies by life stage and species ecology; demonstrated behavioural effects reported in the literature include attraction, disturbance, and indifference depending on EMF characteristics and exposure context. Based on estimated no-observed effect levels (10^-3 to 10^-1 μT), they discuss which species and life stages will probably be most affected among six common benthic elasmobranchs in the Southern North Sea and identify critical knowledge gaps.

Outcomes measured

• Behavioural responses to EMFs (attraction, disturbance, indifference)
• Estimated exposure levels to subsea power cable magnetic fields compared with sensory sensitivity ranges and experimental effect levels
• Risk characterization by species and life stage
• Identification of knowledge gaps for EMF risk assessment

Limitations

• Effects of encountering subsea cable EMFs on elasmobranch species are described as largely unknown
• Risk assessment characterized by large uncertainty and variability by life stage/species ecology
• Reliance on modelled magnetic fields and comparison to reported sensitivity/effect levels rather than direct field outcome measurement (as described in abstract)

Suggested hubs

• marine-wildlife (0.9)
  Focuses on EMF exposure from subsea power cables and potential behavioural effects in marine elasmobranchs.
• power-cables (0.85)
  Assesses EMFs originating from subsea power cables and related exposure/risk.

{
    "study_type": "review",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "subsea power cables",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Benthic elasmobranchs (rays, skates, sharks), including six common benthic elasmobranchs in the Southern North Sea / Dutch Continental Shelf context",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Behavioural responses to EMFs (attraction, disturbance, indifference)",
        "Estimated exposure levels to subsea power cable magnetic fields compared with sensory sensitivity ranges and experimental effect levels",
        "Risk characterization by species and life stage",
        "Identification of knowledge gaps for EMF risk assessment"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The authors modelled magnetic fields from subsea power cables on the Dutch Continental Shelf and compared estimated exposure levels with reported elasmobranch sensory sensitivity ranges and experimental effect levels. They conclude that risk from subsea power cables has large uncertainty and varies by life stage and species ecology; demonstrated behavioural effects reported in the literature include attraction, disturbance, and indifference depending on EMF characteristics and exposure context. Based on estimated no-observed effect levels (10^-3 to 10^-1 μT), they discuss which species and life stages will probably be most affected among six common benthic elasmobranchs in the Southern North Sea and identify critical knowledge gaps.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Effects of encountering subsea cable EMFs on elasmobranch species are described as largely unknown",
        "Risk assessment characterized by large uncertainty and variability by life stage/species ecology",
        "Reliance on modelled magnetic fields and comparison to reported sensitivity/effect levels rather than direct field outcome measurement (as described in abstract)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "subsea power cables",
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "magnetic fields",
        "elasmobranchs",
        "benthic",
        "behaviour",
        "risk assessment",
        "Dutch Continental Shelf",
        "Southern North Sea"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "marine-wildlife",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Focuses on EMF exposure from subsea power cables and potential behavioural effects in marine elasmobranchs."
        },
        {
            "slug": "power-cables",
            "weight": 0.84999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
            "reason": "Assesses EMFs originating from subsea power cables and related exposure/risk."
        }
    ]
}

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