Integrated monitoring strategies for marine wildlife and offshore projects

Projects such as offshore wind farms and port expansions are required to demonstrate clear measures that protect marine mammals, including whales and dolphins. Meeting these requirements has become a critical step in securing approvals around the world. Passive acoustic monitoring techniques provide robust baseline data and long-term monitoring strategies that begin ahead of construction.

“Leveraging our extensive resources and proven experience across Australia, we deploy devices faster and deliver results more efficiently, giving our clients a clear advantage in cost and time compared to others in the market,” says Dr Justin Meager, Technical Director – Marine Ecology.  

Underwater noise generated from activities such as pile driving, sonar, commercial shipping, dredging and seismic surveys can injure or disturb marine mammals. These sounds can disrupt communication, feeding, migration and breeding behaviours, potentially leading to long-term ecological consequences. GHD’s PAM systems allow continuous monitoring to detect these disturbances early, enabling timely mitigation and adaptive management strategies.

Traditional marine mammal monitoring methods using vessels, helicopters, or aircraft are time-consuming, costly, weather-dependent and pose safety risks. PAM provides a more flexible and efficient alternative for monitoring dolphins and whales, particularly in sites where access is limited by weather or waves. For example, in large-scale projects covering approximately 500 to 700 km², structured vessel surveys for marine mammals could require up to 60 days per year. By contrast, continual PAM monitoring at three sites may only require around 8 days of vessel time annually. This involves two days every four months to gather data and service the devices. Meanwhile, the PAMs capture acoustic data continuously using a programmed duty cycle.

We deploy specialised acoustic devices to the seabed, where they record acoustic data for months at a time. We design tailored survey strategies including towed systems, bottom-mounted units with remote releases, and arrays, enable efficient deployment and reliable data capture while reducing field costs and on-site risks.

Blue Mackerel Project: Leading offshore wind with environmental stewardship

"We’re thrilled to be working with GHD, a partner that embodies deep local knowledge, marine expertise, and a history of meaningful engagement with regional communities and First Nations Peoples. With GHD's support, Blue Mackerel is well-positioned to leave a positive and lasting environmental and social legacy,” Kim Downs, Environmental Planning and Approvals Manager, Parkwind.

GHD is proud to lead the Environmental Impact Assessment and Approvals process for Blue Mackerel, a proposed offshore wind project developed by Parkwind, part of JERA Nex, off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria. The project aims to generate 1 gigawatt of renewable energy by 2032–2033, enough to power over half a million Victorian home . Moreover, as a leading initiative in the country’s offshore wind sector, Blue Mackerel highlights how acoustic monitoring can support the responsible delivery of large-scale renewable energy.

For this project, we combine PAM with vessel and aerial surveys to deliver comprehensive monitoring of marine mammals. Using PAM alongside traditional surveys allows us to maintain data quality while optimizing field time, necessary in challenging offshore conditions. This blended approach demonstrates how PAM can supplement or, in some cases, substitute vessel and aerial surveys, depending on project scale, site accessibility, and regulatory requirements.

We also have a long-standing presence in the Gippsland region and experience working with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC). This local connection, combined with our international offshore wind expertise, allows us to deliver solutions that are both technically advanced and culturally informed.  

New technologies are transforming marine monitoring. Deep learning models can now identify marine mammal sounds directly from underwater recordings. Based on large datasets of examples, these models automatically detect species while filtering out background noise.

This AI-driven approach significantly enhances both the speed and accuracy of detection. In markets across Europe, China, and the United States, AI-driven monitoring is already enabling real-time detection of marine species.

“Working across GHD service lines means our technical teams can seamlessly collaborate across disciplines like acoustics and ecology, which creates tangible efficiencies for projects and better outcomes for our clients,” says Madelaine Hooper, Marine Science Lead NSW. 

As a tier-one provider of integrated marine sound solutions, we combine ecology, acoustic engineering, environmental assessment, digital tools and project management within a single multidisciplinary team. This integrated approach creates efficiency, smooth delivery, and cost savings at every stage of a project.

“There is a real opportunity to work across regions,” Justin adds. “Because many marine mammals have cosmopolitan distributions, species like blue whales, humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins give us common ground to collaborate globally.”

With a network spanning five continents, we leverage local insights with global expertise to deliver solutions that are both regionally relevant and learnings from projects across the globe.

For compliance, permitting and reputation management in renewables, ports and offshore infrastructure, marine acoustic monitoring plays a vital role. Our PAM and AI-enabled solutions help clients to:

• Implement real-time monitoring and adaptive mitigation to minimize ecological impacts on marine wildlife.
• Integrate acoustic data into broader environmental frameworks, including air and noise management, impact assessments, and permitting.
• Collaborate with regulators and local communities to align projects with cultural and ecological considerations.
• Plan and execute operations efficiently and safely, reducing field time, lowering costs, and maintaining data quality.

Leveraging advanced acoustic tools alongside ecological expertise and global experience, GHD can plan and execute marine projects with clear mitigation measures, continuous monitoring, and stakeholder collaboration, driving sustainable offshore development with confidence and accountability.