NOAA Warns Of “Risks To Fishery Management” From Offshore Wind - The Fisherman

NOAA Warns Of “Risks To Fishery Management” From Offshore Wind

The latest State of the Ecosystem Reports from NOAA Fisheries reveals “concerns and potential risks to fishery management from proposed offshore wind energy development.”

The April 5 news statement by NOAA Fisheries highlights two new reports showing that the Northeast continental shelf marine ecosystems are experiencing notable ocean warming and changes in oceanography, while also revealing new indicators that evaluate environmental justice concerns.

According to the official statement, offshore wind energy development along the Mid-Atlantic coast “will impact fisheries.”  The federal agency said construction of more than 20 offshore wind development projects proposed on the Northeast shelf will cover more than 1.7 million acres by 2030. An additional six lease areas (488,000 acres) were recently identified in the New York Bight, with more areas anticipated off the Delmarva Peninsula.

“According to current development plans, rapid buildout will have a greater impact on the Mid-Atlantic than New England,” NOAA Fisheries said, adding “The development will affect species differently, with a negative impact on species that prefer soft bottom habitat but potentially benefiting species that prefer hard structured habitat.”

Areas proposed for offshore wind development along the Mid-Atlantic coast which includes the coastal states of New York, New Jersey and Delaware make up to 31% of port revenue from fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic.

According to NOAA Fisheries, recreational harvest in New England reached its lowest point in 2020, driven in part by management actions to address poor or unknown stock status. In the Mid-Atlantic, recreational fishing effort shows a long-term increasing trend and has returned to pre-2018 levels. However, the agency also revealed how fleet diversity is decreasing because of a shift away from party/charter to shore-based fishing.

“This shift results in a decreased range of recreational fishing opportunities,” NOAA Fisheries said, adding “Shore-based anglers will have access to different species and sizes of fish than vessel-based anglers.”

For more information go to fisheries.noaa.gov.

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