Seals equipped with GPS beacons to study the impact of a wind farm

Illustration of a seal.

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What impact will a wind project have on the seals?

It is in an attempt to answer this question that some of these marine mammals living near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (Manche) were fitted with GPS beacons, reports

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This operation was carried out jointly by the Beauguillot nature reserve, the services of the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) and the Center for Biological Studies of Chizé (Deux-Sèvres).

A total of 200 seals live in this area located near a future wind farm.

It should soon see the light of day off Courseulles-sur-Mer (Calvados).

Several marking operations planned

Thus, seven seals were captured at low tide between October 12 and 15.

Scientists took biological samples and then tags were placed on the necks of the animals.

The latter were then released.

The GPS will collect various data and track the seals.

Another markup is planned for the first quarter of 2021. These first two operations should make it possible to study the seals before the start of work on the wind project.

When they begin, between 2022 and 2023, 14 other beacons will be placed.

The operation will be renewed after 2024 during the operation of the park.

Thanks to the data provided by the various GPS, scientists will then be able to analyze the possible impacts of wind turbines on the behavior of seals.

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