As the offshore energy sector advances within the global energy evolution, questions about underwater sound remain central to environmental discussions. EnerGeo Alliance has dedicated marine scientists on staff, responsible for tracking emerging research and evaluating it rigorously, ensuring that the information guiding offshore decision-making is accurate, contextualized, and grounded in current evidence.
This approach includes monitoring research across multiple taxa—fish, invertebrates, zooplankton, marine mammals, and sea turtles—and across a range of impulsive sound sources (e.g., compressed air sources, impact pile driving). Because the basic mechanisms of injury or behavioral response are often similar across species, findings from one group can serve as informative proxies for another when species-specific data are limited. This breadth of knowledge helps EnerGeo make well-informed risk assessments, guide mitigation strategies, and support evidence-based best practices across the offshore energy sector. We share this information with our members to enable easy uptake of the best available science across the sector.
By linking science and practice, we help ensure conversations and decisions are based on facts—not assumptions, unjustified precautions, or headlines.
Translating Research: Fact Sheets and Literature Summaries
Marine science can be complex and highly specialized. Underwater sound research often requires competence in biology, physiology, oceanography, acoustics, physics, and other specialties to fully comprehend. EnerGeo bridges the gap between primary research and practical decision-making through fact sheets and literature summaries:
- Literature summaries distill the latest peer-reviewed research, highlighting trends, the strength of evidence, and remaining uncertainties.
- Fact sheets complement these summaries by presenting essential takeaways in concise, accessible formats—showing what matters most, why it matters, and the implications for industry, regulators, and the public.
These resources empower stakeholders to engage with research, make informed decisions, and foster trust and transparency across the offshore energy sector.
Making Science Accessible
In 2025, EnerGeo refreshed its fact sheets and literature summaries. The updated format helps busy decision-makers find what they need quickly:
- The Bottom Line – concisely conveys the central conclusion of the evidence and its relevance for interpretation or decision-making;
- Why It Matters – places the findings in context by clarifying their implications for science, policy, or practice; and
- Industry Implications – highlights the operational and strategic relevance of the findings for industry.
For those seeking more detail, we provide:
- Study design and interpretation; and
- Assessment of evidence strength and remaining uncertainty.
We also expanded topics to reflect stakeholder priorities, including exclusion zone rationale, sound-source verification, and fisheries concerns in South Africa and South America. Even terminology updates help improve public understanding of offshore survey activities.
Importantly, many of the updated fact sheets are now available on the public-facing side of EnerGeo’s website, extending access beyond members to regulators, researchers, and other stakeholders interested in offshore energy and marine science.
What the Science Shows
Research on geophysical surveys has matured significantly over the past two decades. Early studies focused on marine mammals, given their reliance on sound and strict conservation protections. As the science evolved, focus expanded to lower-trophic-level and commercially important species such as fish, pearl oysters, rock lobsters, and zooplankton. This ecosystem-wide perspective provides a more balanced foundation for evidence-based environmental management.
Key insights from field-based studies include:
- Marine animals can detect seismic sound, especially at close range, but detection does not equal disruption, and disruption does not automatically imply harm.
- Biological responses—such as movement or vocal adjustment—are typically localized and short-lived.
- Normal behavior usually resumes quickly after exposure, and population-level impacts are rarely observed.
- Ecological context—migration patterns, habitat type, and seasonality—matters more than sound alone.
In short, modern research allows a clear distinction between biological response and biologically meaningful consequence (e.g., reduced survival or reproduction).
Collaboration Between Science and Industry
A growing trend in seismic research is large-scale, multidisciplinary field programs that integrate acoustics, ecology, and behavioral science—often with direct industry involvement. These studies capture what actually happens during offshore operations, producing robust datasets that inform mitigation and policy.
For example, the Behavioural Response of Australian Humpback Whales to Seismic Surveys (BRAHSS) project, conducted from 2010–2015, continues to yield new publications in 2025. While such programs take time, the resulting insights are among the most reliable available for guiding environmental stewardship today.
Right-Sizing Risk: Evidence Over Assumptions
EnerGeo emphasizes the importance of realistic modeling. Historically, conservative assumptions were stacked to ensure protection, but when carried forward without updated data, they can inflate perceived risk.
Better information enables better protection:
- Updated propagation data improves mitigation planning.
- Site-specific conditions prevent overgeneralization.
- Uncertainty is acknowledged rather than amplified.
Another common misconception is that any fish mortality event or sea turtle stranding during a survey must be caused by that survey. Peer-reviewed analyses show other stressors—storms, fisheries, disease—are far more likely drivers. Distinguishing correlation from causation is essential for maintaining trust in science-based regulation.
Supporting Informed Decisions in a Transitioning Energy System
Responsible offshore development does not require choosing between environmental protection and energy security. When geoscience surveys are carefully planned and managed, both are achievable. EnerGeo continues to:
- Track emerging science on cumulative exposure and deep-water ecosystems
- Inform members on mitigation effectiveness and species-specific sensitivity
- Deliver tools that clearly communicate what the evidence supports—and what it doesn’t
- Strengthen connections between researchers, regulators, industry, and communities.
Understanding the science—and its practical implications—is essential when working with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders. By clearly communicating research findings, EnerGeo ensures that policy discussions, operational planning, and environmental management decisions are informed by credible evidence rather than assumptions. This approach fosters trust, transparency, and collaboration across industry, regulators, and communities. By pairing rigorous scientific evaluation with open, public-facing communication, EnerGeo is helping build a future where offshore energy exploration and development advances alongside strong environmental stewardship.
