Will Offshore Wind Harm New England Fisheries?
At a Glance:
Determining potential negative impacts of offshore wind energy on the ecosystem that sustains commercially fished marine species is obviously critical. At stake are the livelihoods of fishermen and an industry essential to our food supply. At the same time adverse effects of climate change are expected for approximately half of 82 species of fish and invertebrates studied (Hare et al. 2016) and species are already changing their distribution in response to warming waters. A robust scientific research and monitoring plan to detect interactions between marine life, and offshore wind energy development activities is a key component of responsible offshore wind energy development. Two federal agencies charged with this task, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. They have initiated extensive plans for research as well as discussions of potential impacts and possible mitigation scenarios with commercial fishing groups and the offshore wind industry itself. An example of how concerns raised have already resulted in improvements in planning was a decision by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Council to require Ørsted, developer of the project, to move wind turbines and some electric cables off Coxes Ledge, a rich fishing ground and spawning area for cod and an area of particular concern to fishermen.
Nevertheless, there are many logistical challenges for fishing vessels operating within a wind turbine array including navigation, safety, gear loss, and possible insurance changes. Moreover, the fishing industry plays an important role in the U.S. economy. OSW development offers a low-carbon source of electricity for the nation, but it is essential that both benefits and costs are considered in mitigating negative impacts, especially for the fishing industry which is on the frontlines of this new use of the Northeast Atlantic ocean region.
A Deeper Dive:
A comprehensive document covering all that is and is not known about interactions of offshore wind energy with fish and fisheries was developed by the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), NOAA Fisheries’ Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This peer-reviewed report (Hogan et al., 2023)
covers ecosystem effects, fisheries operations, economics, and sociocultural effects. The value of this document is that it lays the groundwork needed to use the scientific process to continue developing our understanding of local fisheries as they respond to construction of offshore wind facilities. The more that is learned the better we can guide optimal placement of turbines and mitigation of impacts. For example, the original plan for Revolutions Wind, 15 miles southeast of Point Judith, called for a total of 100 turbines. The lease area is located partly on Coxes Ledge, a rich fishing ground and a habitat and spawning area for cod. By omitting certain turbine positions the adverse impacts will be reduced. The new plan includes 79 potential locations for 65 turbines, thereby allowing flexibility in situating them to avoid seafloor disturbance and problems with viewscapes. The final Environmental Impact Statement states, “BOEM excluded 70 miles of Cox Ledge from offshore wind energy development because of the importance of the area to for-hire recreational fishing and commercial fisheries.”
A few examples of other mitigation strategies include restricting dates during which pile driving for construction can occur, restrictions on project activities if Atlantic cod spawning is detected, restrictions on vessel speed, a trained lookout posted on all vessel transits during all phases of the project to look for sea turtles. There are many more mitigation strategies as clearly explained here:
In addition, financial compensation for the fishing industry has been proposed, although not necessarily accepted as adequate by the fishing industry. Estimating losses to the industry, although attempted remains a contentious issue. Improvements to this process are being proposed by 11 states along the east coast to provide a regional fund that is “consistent, equitable, and transparent framework for compensation, subject to the establishment of a formal governance structure and compensation claims process.”
Jon Hare, Science and Research Director of NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center explains the comprehensive approach of adaptive ecosystems-based management that is being carefully planned as offshore wind develops. https://octogroup.org/developing-offshore-wind-in-us-waters-part-2-offshore-wind-development-and-the-structure-and-function-of-marine-ecosystems/