NOAA & BOEM Address Fishing Data Challenges Presented By Wind Farm - The Fisherman

NOAA & BOEM Address Fishing Data Challenges Presented By Wind Farm

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have combined their resources to address fish survey challenges presented by offshore wind farms. NOAA and fishermen have raised concerns about the ability to conduct fish surveys in wind farm areas. The main goal of this joint effort is to lessen the impact of not conducting surveys in areas that have seen regular studies in the past.

NOAA Fisheries’ studies are essential when considering fishing regulations, such as commercial fish quotas, as well as size and bag limits for recreational anglers. They also tell us a lot about the recovery status of protected species and the state of fish habitats throughout the region.

The program will address impacts from exclusion of NOAA Fisheries’ sampling platforms from the wind development area due to operational and safety limitations; impacts on the random-stratified statistical design that is the basis for scientific assessments, advice, and analyses; as well as alteration of benthic and pelagic habitats, and airspace in and around the wind energy development. A timeline for initial actions will be developed as part of the program.

At a University of Rhode Island Sea Grant Baird Symposium session last year, Andrew Gil, principal scientist at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science in the United Kingdom, said, “Fisheries surveys in the United Kingdom did not experience problems. Scientists worked around them, just like they compensate for weather (with a mitigation program). So, wind farms did not interfere with surveys in the United Kingdom.”

Survey challenges were mitigated in the United Kingdom and that is the aim of the BOEM/NOAA program.

In a press advisory NOAA said, “The program will evaluate existing survey designs, identify and develop new survey approaches. It will calibrate these new approaches to existing surveys, develop interim survey indices, and conduct monitoring efforts. This will fill regional scientific survey data needs over the life of offshore wind operations.”

Information and outcomes from these efforts will be shared with the public, industry, academia, and state and federal partners to ensure an open and transparent process.

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