With increasing numbers of offshore structures to be decommissioned, a better understanding of their effect on marine predators is timely. There is some evidence that oil and gas platforms may attract marine mammals acting as artificial reefs. However, it is unclear whether different man-made structure designs have similar effects. Further, due to the lack of baseline data prior to installation, it is unknown whether artificial structures modify the diel patterns of occurrence and foraging behaviour of marine mammals. Here, we used passive acoustics to investigate the occurrence and foraging activity of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) around three artificial structures of different age and complexity. We deployed an array of echolocation click detectors (CPODs) in 2021, along a gradient of distances to these structures and assessed the extent to which porpoises were attracted to them. We also investigated the effect of these structures on the diel patterns of occurrence and foraging activity of porpoises. The probability of porpoise occurrence and foraging activity decreased with distance from offshore structures. A significant increase in porpoise occurrence and foraging was detected during night-time compared to daytime around all three offshore structures (< 200 m). Comparing pre- and post-installation porpoise detections, the daily patterns of occurrence and foraging activity shifted from a weak diel pattern before the structure was installed, to a strong nocturnal pattern when the structure was present. These findings provide evidence that marine mammals are attracted to man-made structures and that porpoises modify their diel patterns of occurrence and foraging activity around them. This research suggests that offshore structures play an important role as foraging areas for marine mammals and provides key information for the decommissioning process.

Data consist of 20 files and include the datasets and R code required to repeat all the analyses. A full description of the files provided in the OFB_ReefEffect_Readme.txt file: 1. OFB_ReefEffect_CPODexe_HP-Clickdetails_Aug2021.csv 2. OFB_ReefEffect_CPODexe_HP-DPH_perDAY_2021.txt 3. OFB_ReefEffect_CPODexe_HP-PPM_perHOUR_2021.txt 4. OFB_ReefEffect_CPODexe_MaxClickInfo_perDAY_Aug21.csv 5. OFB_ReefEffect_TPODexe_HP-ClickTimes_2005.csv 6. OFB_ReefEffect_TPODexe_HP-PPM_perHOUR_2005.txt 7. OFB_ReefEffect_HP-DPH-BPH_perDAY.csv 8. OFB_ReefEffect_HP-DPH-BPH_perDAY_FinalDataset.csv 9. OFB_ReefEffect_ HP-DPH-BPH_perDAYNIGHT_FinalDataset.csv 10. OFB_ReefEffect_HP-PPM-BPM_perHOUR_2021.csv 11. OFB_ReefEffect_HP-PPM-BPM_perHOUR_2005.csv 12. OFB_ReefEffect_HP-PPM-BPM_Pre-Post-FinalDataset.csv 13. OFB_ReefEffect_OffshoreStructures_Locations.csv 14. OFB_ReefEffect_PAMLocations.csv 15. OFB_ReefEffect - Buzz extraction and summarise perHour and perDay.R 16. OFB_ReefEffect - Create DPH-BPH perDay - Final dataset.R 17. OFB_ReefEffect - Create DPH-BPH perDayNight - Final dataset.R 18. OFB_ReefEffect - Create Pre-Post Structure dataset.R 19. OFB_ReefEffect - GLM GAM Modeling.R 20. OFB_ReefEffect - Manuscript PlotsFunding provided by: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK GovernmentCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100011693Award Number: OESEA-20-125 and OESEA-21-133

Echolocation detectors (CPODs; Chelonia Ltd) were deployed in August 2021 to study the occurrence and foraging activity of harbour porpoises around three redundant artificial structures within Scottish shelf waters: Jacky Wellhead O&G platform, Beatrice Bravo O&G platform, and Beatrice Demonstrator turbines (offshore renewable energy).