Welcome!

This page is intended to answer any questions you may have about participating in research for the Predators and Prey Around Renewable Energy Developments (PrePARED) project, funded by the Offshore Wind Evidence & Change programme and Crown Estate Scotland. Please read this information before providing your consent to participate.

Why we are asking for your help

You have been identified as having interests relevant to offshore wind farm development and their effects on seabirds, marine mammals and fish. The PrePARED project aims to generate new insights, data and guidance on this topic and deliver it to those that need it. For this reason, we would like to invite you to share your views and knowledge of others that might be interested or impacted by research about the effects of offshore wind developments on these species, or otherwise have influence over offshore wind consenting with regards to these environmental effects. 

Project summary - how your insights can make a difference

PrePARED aims to address critical knowledge gaps that currently are barriers to sustainable offshore wind development, and improve the models to consent offshore wind farms in Scotland and the UK. To do this, we need to understand who has an influence over this process, would be impacted by our findings, or have interests related to offshore wind farm development and their effects on seabirds, marine mammals and fish. This will help us engage the right people in our research, understand their needs and ensure it benefits them. We will use findings from this research to develop a communication plan for stakeholders and to inform impact plans. 

Who is conducting this research

This research is conducted by staff at Fast Track Impact (FTI) and the Institute for Methods Innovation (IMI) on behalf of the Scottish Government Marine Directorate (SGMD). These teams include: Prof. Mark Reed (FTI, research lead), Prof. Eric Jensen (IMI, research fellow), Sarah Noles (IMI, research and communications associate) and Lali van Zuydam (IMI, research and communications associate), Lauren Donachie (SGMD) and Bill Turrell (SGMD). The broader PrePARED project team comprises 10 other partners (details of these organisations can be found here).

How is this research funded

This research is being funded by the Offshore Wind Evidence & Change programme and Crown Estate Scotland.

How to participate

This survey will take between 10-30 minutes. This depends on how much detail you provide in your responses. For example, this survey will take very little time if you do not know many others interested in, have influence over, or would be impacted by research on the effects of offshore wind farm development on seabirds, marine mammals and fish. We still ask that you answer any relevant questions.
If you cannot complete this questionnaire, you are welcome to forward the original invitation and survey link to another suitable individual(s) and encourage them to submit a response.

How data will be stored and used

Non-anonymised data will not be shared outside the PrePARED project team. All personal data will be anonymised before sharing beyond project partner research teams for the PrePARED project. Your contributions will remain anonymous by default in project publications, which may include peer-reviewed academic journals and publications aimed at research and policy professionals. Electronic data will be stored on encrypted, password-protected computers, and backed up on secure, encrypted EU-based servers in full compliance with GDPR.

Right to withdraw from participation

No risks associated with this research that would affect you as a participant have been identified. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you may withdraw yourself or your data at any time prior to data anonymisation, without providing any reason.

Research Team Contact

Please contact Sarah Noles (sarah@methodsinnovation.org) if you have questions about participating in this research, would like to request a copy of your data (or request that it is destroyed), or withdraw from participation.

Agreement to participate

After reading the participant information page, please read the following statements and then indicate your understanding and consent:

I have read the participant information page and the project objectives of this research study.

  • I have had the opportunity to consider the information, ask questions and clarify any doubts regarding the project.
  • My participation is voluntary and I am free to withdraw at any time before my responses are anonymised.
  • My personal information (name, organisational affiliation, contact details and research contributions) will be processed by the Institute for Methods Innovation.
  • My personal information may be retained for up to five years (~Aug. 2028).
  • My responses may be shared with partners of the PrePared project.
  • After my responses have been anonymised, the information I provide may be used to produce research outputs, including academic journal articles and policy briefings or be published as an open dataset.
Please indicate whether you understand and agree with the statements above, and consent to participate in this survey:
In addition, please also indicate whether you opt-in to the following uses of your data:
(This will not affect your eligibility to participate in the survey)
 
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Contact details


(If you have more than one job title, indicate the one you consider primary)

 
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About the PrePared project - help us engage with the right people in the right way

The UK has a target to install 40GW of offshore wind farms by 2030. However, we don't know enough about how these wind farms affect seabirds, marine mammals, and fish, which slows down the planning process. The PrePARED project studies how these animals respond to the wind farms and why, especially in terms of changes in their food sources. By understanding the impacts better, we can build more wind farms quickly, efficiently, and sustainably.

We want to engage with organisations or groups that might be interested in or impacted by the results of our research, as well as those who would have an influence over its impact on the offshore wind farm development process. Sharing your knowledge will help shape our understanding of which stakeholders will be most affected by our research and impact work so that we can engage them in a way that best meets their needs.

The key intended outcomes of PrePared project include the following:

  • Increased stakeholder confidence: Clear information and reports to help inform impact assessments and improve confidence in sustainable offshore wind farm development.
  • Evaluation of positive and negative effects on key species: Information about changes in fish populations and how are affected by offshore wind farms.
  • De-risking licensing: Straightforward guidelines and evidence for assessing the combined impact, reducing delays in planning offshore wind farm projects.
  • Improved post-consent monitoring: Identification of important factors for monitoring seabird and marine mammal responses, gaining a better understanding of overall effects.
  • Enhanced marine planning: Information about how seabirds and marine mammals distribute themselves around wind farms, guiding future development decisions.
  • Understanding fish distribution for coexistence: Data and information from monitoring commercial fish species around wind farms to explore the possibility of sharing space and resources.
Are you aware of any organisations or groups that may be interested, have influence over or be impacted by these outcomes in any way?