Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project: An Underwater Noise Case Study

As the development of large-scale offshore infrastructure projects continues to expand, effective environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are essential for safeguarding marine ecosystems. This article examines the process of underwater noise assessment within the context of EIAs for subsea cable installations. It focuses on key aspects such as noise propagation modeling, technical decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and the challenges associated with predicting and mitigating impacts on marine life. The article is grounded in a case study of a trans-continental subsea HVDC interconnector project. Insights from this project inform best practices for underwater acoustic assessments and their integration into the broader EIA framework.