Abstract

Anthropogenic underwater noise is a pervasive environmental stressor with significant implications for marine ecosystems, particularly concerning the acoustic habitat of marine mammals. Amidst the growing interest in renewable energy sources, tidal energy devices have emerged as a potential solution to mitigate climate change impacts. However, the deployment of such devices introduces underwater noise that may disrupt marine mammal communication, foraging, and navigation. This study aims to evaluate the ecological context of anthropogenic submerged noise by examining  its effects on marine mammals’ listening spaces in proximity to tidal energy installations. These findings highlight the importance of assessing masking over seasons, as masking effects are highly influenced by ambient noise conditions. Understanding the natural variation within seasons is also particularly relevant for tidal turbine noise assessments as devices are typically situated in highly dynamic environments. Since masking effects occur at the lower level of behavioural impacts in marine mammals, assessing the spatial extent of masking as part of environmental impact assessments is recommended. The listening space formula, which is largely based on measurable environmentalfactors is transferable to any MRE device, or arrays, for any species and therefore provides an effective method to better inform MRE pre- and post-consenting processes. Using acoustic monitoring techniques and ecological modeling, we assess the spatial extent and temporal patterns of noise propagation, alongside its potential impacts on marine mammal behavior and habitat use. By integrating ecological and engineering perspectives, this research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the ecological consequences of tidal energy development and informs sustainable management practices for marine renewable energy projects.