![]() They also worry that unforeseen consequences could reduce catches and trigger government limits on how much can be caught if fish stocks diminish.Īnd while some companies have voluntarily agreed to compensate fishermen for any economic damage, there is no mandate requiring it. They worry about being able to safely navigate around the turbines, and about being prohibited from productive fishing grounds on which they have relied for generations. ![]() They fear electromagnetic fields emitted from underwater power cables could deter or harm some marine life. Interviews with commercial and recreational fishermen and women show they share common anxieties about the offshore wind turbines chasing away species they have long relied on. fishing industry - both commercial and recreational - has numerous concerns about offshore wind impacting operations in places long available for fishing with minimal interference. But three federal agencies say there is no evidence the two are related. Opponents blame ocean floor preparation for causing or contributing to the deaths of 70 whales on the U.S. Phil Sgro, a spokesman for the American Clean Power Association, said the industry believes sufficient scientific studies exist to establish that offshore wind development can be done “in a manner that is both economical and environmentally responsible.” Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has posted a half-dozen or more studies on its web site every year since 2016 in several instances the studies called for further investigation and analysis. ![]() The request was made “in support of the rapid development of offshore wind,” according to a notice on the website. Others, including flatfish and whiting, were shown to leave those areas.Īnd in May, the Biden Administration offered an $850,000 grant to collect more information on the hearing abilities of critically endangered North American right whales, citing “knowledge gaps” in how the animals behave. Some European studies have shown that crabs and lobster are attracted to harder sea bottoms that support wind turbines. Research in other countries also is also nuanced. He said the work helps agencies define monitoring required for long-term studies and that more work is required to determine how offshore wind energy changes marine habitats. Andy Lipsky, who oversees the wind energy team at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, is a co-author. In most instances, report authors agreed that more studies are needed. At the same time, cloudy water from turbine operations, noise, vibrations and electromagnetic fields could also make species leave an area. The March study said large underwater platforms are rapidly colonized by smaller, bottom-dwelling marine life, including shellfish and crabs, which in turn attract larger predators like black sea bass. For instance, turbines can attract some fish and repel others. Like numerous existing studies, the report pointed out the complexities of how the structures and cables might interact with marine life. A joint study in March by two federal scientific agencies and the commercial fishing industry documents numerous impacts that offshore wind power projects could have on fish and marine mammals, including noise, vibration, electromagnetic fields and heat transfer that could alter the environment.
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