A new individual‑based modelling approach which better estimates seabird displacement from offshore wind developments during the non‑breeding season, reducing consent risk through more robust, evidence‑led assessments.
Overview
The ORJIP: Displacement in the non-breeding season (DisNBS) project set out to improve how the displacement of seabirds by offshore renewable developments is estimated during the non-breeding season. By strengthening understanding of the mechanisms that influence displacement risk, the project supports more robust, evidencebased assessments and helps reduce consent risk, while allowing new evidence to be incorporated as it becomes available.
The project developed an individual-based model approach for seabirds in the non-breeding season, enabling simulation of time-energy budgets, and the resulting impacts on body mass and survival, both with and without offshore renewable development scenarios. The approach was demonstrated through case studies focusing on Isle of May guillemots and North Sea redthroated divers.
The resulting tool, RoamR is publicly available on Github with supporting documentation to enable users to install and apply the model.
The DisNBS project was supported by the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme, led by The Crown Estate in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
Access the tool here:
