The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island have awarded support to regional fisheries studies to collect data in relation to offshore wind.
The grants, worth $1.1m (€994,000), have been awarded to four institutions to support “first-in-the-nation” studies that will conduct research on recreational and commercial fisheries, seabed habitat, and comparable offshore wind policies in Europe.
The five studies will generate important information and data during the pre-construction period for the region’s first offshore wind projects, and will help establish baseline datasets on fisheries and seabed habitat.
Inspire Environmental, with the New England Aquarium, has been awarded $443,450 to support a two-year acoustic tagging and tracking study of highly migratory species such as tuna and sharks at popular recreational fishing spots in the wind energy areas.
The information gathered will provide new baseline data to support ongoing assessment of the impact of offshore wind on highly migratory species and associated recreational fishing.
Inspire will also develop standard approaches to “synthesising, visualising and disseminating” high-resolution acoustic and imagery data for mapping of seabed habitat in the wind energy areas.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association have been awarded $278,592 to conduct towed net surveys for larval lobster and fish neuston (small fish organisms) throughout the wind energy areas.
This 18-month study will provide baseline information on the spatial and temporal distribution of species at their earliest life stage, during which they are transported by tides and currents.
University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island DEM have been awarded $249,646 to merge electronic and other data on fishing vessel activity into a single data set and apply a “machine learning” approach to enable lower cost broad-scale modelling of the probability of fishing activity in a given area.
The modelling will allow researchers to identify where and when vessels are actually fishing, as opposed to being in transit.
New Bedford Port Authority has been awarded $125,000 to conduct a comparative analysis of policies regarding coexistence of commercial fishing with existing offshore wind in Europe and emerging policies in Japan.
The study, to be undertaken with a consultant, is intended to establish a “fact-based and broadly accepted narrative” in this area.
“We deeply appreciate the agencies’ support of critically important research to better understand the impacts to fisheries from offshore wind energy development,” said Annie Hawkins, Executive Director of the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA).
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has contributed $496,688, while Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has provided $200,000 and BOEM $400,000 towards the grant.
MassCEC will manage the studies with BOEM, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island fishery resource agencies.
Work by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries informed the priority areas and also contributed to the development of a comprehensive framework for a broad fisheries science and monitoring programme, with input from federal, state, and industry stakeholders.
“As offshore wind advances in the north-east, it is imperative that we ensure it is developed in an environmentally responsible manner that maintains shared use for our maritime industries,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides.
“These studies will expand our knowledge of fisheries, habitats, and migration patterns in the wind energy development areas, helping to avoid and minimize potential effects of construction and operation,” she added.
Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker said: “Collaborating with our state and federal partners to support these studies will help us better manage fisheries and natural habitats, while positioning the offshore wind industry to stimulate economic development and deliver clean, affordable energy to Massachusetts.”
BOEM acting director Walter Cruickshank said: “The continued success of offshore industries in the United States requires strong coordination and consultation with our state partners.
“The studies announced today will help ensure BOEM has sufficient baseline information to support its environmental assessments of offshore wind projects on the Atlantic outer continental shelf.”
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management director Janet Coit said: “It is clear that the science on offshore wind development impacts in the US is in its early stages, and regional baseline data for the areas slated for wind development are lacking, especially with regards to potential impacts to Rhode Island’s fishing industry.
“The selected studies will help to fill some of these data gaps and allow for informed decision-making while paving the way for meeting Rhode Island’s renewable energy goals and advancing climate mitigation efforts.”