Coexistence of Wind, Fisheries, Wildlife & Ecosystems: A ...€¦ · 05/03/2020 · Interactions...

Coexistence of Wind, Fisheries, Wildlife & Ecosystems: A

Science Perspective

Jon Hare and Andy Lipsky Northeast Fisheries Science CenterNortheast Fisheries Science Center

March 5, 2020

Maine Fishermen’s Forum

2

Outline

• Rapid Expansion of

Offshore Wind

• Interactions with

Fisheries, Wildlife,

and Ecosystems

• Key Challenges &

Opportunities https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/rcb/photogallery/scenic-ocean.html

Rapid Expansion of Offshore Wind

• 15 leases in the Northwest Atlantic

• Planning Activities in Mid-Atlantic &

Gulf of Maine

• Planned Leasing Activities on U.S.

Pacific Coast and Hawaii Islands

8,500Km of

Cable

1,700Turbines

Projected Offshore Wind Development by 2030 Potential Effects

Fisheries

Wildlife

Ecosystem & Habitats

Human Communities

Data gathering using ships

and aircraft

4

• Planned projects extend to

2027 (20+ year operations)

• Does not include all current

leases nor new leases

• Does not include areas where

moored technology would be

used

• “Rest of our careers”


20+ operation period

2047 and beyond

• Andy Lipsky –

NEFSC Wind

Team Lead

• Susan Tuxbury –

GARFO BOEM

Activities /

Hydropower Lead

• Julia Beaty –

MAFMC

• Michelle Bachman

- NEFMC

http://www.mafmc.org/northeast-offshore-wind


6

• Fishing revenue studies

• Habitat characterization

• Marine mammal, seabird,

fisheries and ecosystem

surveys

• Sound studies

• Site specific monitoring

studies

Baseline Studies (BOEM & NMFS)

Interactions Between Wind, Fisheries,

Wildlife, and Science

• Acoustic survey and construction

noise

• Vessel traffic

• Seafloor, water column, and

surface air disturbance

• Sediment Suspension and

Deposition

• Cabling & Electro-magnetic

fields

• Lighting / Navigation

• Habitat Conversion

Wind Development

1. Pre-construction (now)

2. Construction (soon)

3. Operation (20-30 yrs)

4. Decommissioning (after

operation)



• Exclusion of some fishing activity

• Creation new habitat

• Biological effects of noise and

electromagnetic fields

• Exclusion / attraction of species

• Changes in behavior - feeding,

socializing, nursing

• Ecosystem changes: oceanography,

prey, habitat

• Impacts on surveys and assessments

Trust Resources

1. Fisheries

2. Wildlife

3. Ecosystems &

Habitats (inc.

humans)



9



North Atlantic Right Whales

Sightings Jan 2010 to Nov 2019

Construction

Effects on Marine

Mammals• Construction noise

• Vessel traffic

https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/

environmental-

stewardship/Environmental-

Studies/Renewable-Energy/A-

Framework-for-Studying-the-Effects.pdf

10



Effects of Pre- and

during Construction

Sounds• Squid exhibit startle

response

• Black sea bass respond

to replicated noise

• Effect of acoustic

surveys of development

areas

Exclusion of

some fishing

activity

• Mobile gear

• Larger vessels

• Transit

https://cdn.offshorewind.biz/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/05/29104823/vineyard-

wind-starts-environmental-surveys.jpg



Electro-magnetic fields

• “We definitely saw effects in

behavior in both lobsters

and skates, though it was

more dramatic in the

skates.” John King URI



https://www.ecori.org/narragansett-

bay/2019/9/11/sharks-lobsters-impacted-by-electric-

cables-from-offshore-wind

13



Habitat Alteration• Greater

abundance of fish

inside

of wind farms

https://www.blockislandtimes.com/arti

cle/wind-turbines-and-fish-co-

existing-so-far/51751

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/89

063/offshore-wind-farms-make-wakes

Seafloor, water column, and

surface air disturbance• Increase in turbulence

• Effects on primary and

secondary production

• Effects on benthic habitats



Effects on Surveys and

Assessments

• Random-stratified design

• Ship and aircraft line

transects

• Habitat effects of wind-farms

• 314* years of survey effort

• Effects on assessmentshttps://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/noaa-

scientist-offshore-wind-projects-will-likely-affect-viability-

of-fishery-surveys



Cumulative Impacts

• Multiple projects

constructed over next

7+ years

• Operations over next

27+ years



?

https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/uploadedImages/

BOEM/Renewable_Energy_Program/Mapping_and_Data/

ocs_wpa.jpg

17

Fisheries Wildlife Ecosystems

Pre-construction

Construction

Operation

Decommissioning



What are the effects of wind

energy development on fisheries,

wildlife, and ecosystems,

including human communities?

Can these effects be avoided,

minimized, and mitigated?

How will components of the complex socio-ecological

system adapt?

• Addressing questions as

wind development is

progressing

• Pace and scale of

development

• Scale of problem –

fisheries x wildlife x

ecosystems x wind

18

Key Challenges & Opportunities

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl

es/2019-06-05/connecticut-set-to-join-

in-70-billion-offshore-wind-expansion

19


• Floating technology will

change map of development

• What knowledge is

transferrable from pile to

floating technology?

https://www.offshore-mag.com/field-

development/article/14069033/offshore-wind-energy

https://www.pressherald.com/2019/12/12/regions-leaders-

say-offshore-wind-in-gulf-of-maine-could-provide-critical-

energy-source/

20

Joint MOU NOAA, BOEM, and RODA (Responsible Offshore Development Association)

“NOAA/NMFS, BOEM, and RODA (Parties) have a mutual interest in the responsible planning, siting, and development of offshore wind power … in a way that considered impacts to the fishing industry, fisheries resources protected resources, and the marine habitats upon which fishery resources depend”


Regional Framework

Topic

1

Topic

2

Topic

3Dev 3Dev 2Dev 1

Topic 1

Topic 2

Topic 3

Dev 3

Dev 2

Dev 1

Topic 2

Topic 2

Responsible Offshore

Science Alliance



• Block Island Experience

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/federal-regulators-

fishermen-agree-to-consult-on-offshore-wind/

• European Experience (20+ years)


Innovation!

• New fishing methods

• New management

approaches

• New survey approaches

• Cooperative Research

• New science (BACI/BAG

designs, ocean observing)


25

Conclusions

Rest of our careers

Recipe for Coexistence

Wind Development

Coexistence of Wind, Fisheries, Wildlife & Ecosystems: A ...€¦ · 05/03/2020 · Interactions...

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