Parry, Wayne. “U.S. Sets Plans to Protect Endangered Whales near Offshore Wind Farms; Firms Swap Wind Leases.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 25 Jan. 2024, www.britannica.com/news/186738/67814ad1f39509c39e6e4ca4002e1b26.

Federal environmental agencies, such as the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and NOAA, announced their plans to protect the endangered North American Right Whales from offshore wind farm projects by adding AI and acoustic monitoring. The offshore wind farm projects cause underwater noise, vessel traffic, and changes in the whale’s habitat which makes these projects highly dangerous to the whales. The environmental agencies aim to mitigate potential impacts on the whales by developing quieter technology for future construction. The news coincides with Equinor and BP swapping offshore wind leases in NY and Massachusetts. 

This article is related to environmental science because of biodiversity conservation and habitat impact. Biodiversity conservation refers to the efforts and practices aimed at protecting the variety of life on Earth. So since these Right Whales are endangered, environmental scientists are studying the relationship between human activities and the preservation of these vulnerable species to better balance environmental sustainability with human needs. The article also addresses the alterations to marine habitats due the offshore wind projects and how the long-term consequences will affect the ecology and marine life of the area.