Wind – US agencies aim to mitigate the impacts of offshore wind development

The Federal survey mitigation strategy Underscores the businesses’ shared dedication to the Biden-Harris Clear Power Administration’s targets of responsibly advancing offshore wind vitality manufacturing whereas defending biodiversity and selling shared use of the oceans.

NOAA Fisheries surveys are important to the sustainable administration of our nation’s fisheries. For 150 years, company scientists have collected survey knowledge that underpin science-based administration of US federal fisheries, assist the safety and restoration of marine mammals and endangered species, and enhance understanding and conservation of coastal and marine habitats. and ecosystems for future generations.

“This joint technique will assist be sure that the standard of NOAA fisheries surveys and knowledge is maintained whereas the nation develops offshore wind vitality,” mentioned Janet Coit, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, Appearing Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Oceans and Ambiance, and NOAA Deputy Administrator. “Our fisheries surveys permit NOAA to watch essential traits for particular person species over time, with broader targets of understanding marine ecosystems, notably within the face of local weather change, and supporting sustainable fisheries.”

“BOEM values ​​our partnership with NOAA to proactively handle key challenges as we work collectively to realize bold administration targets for offshore wind vitality,” mentioned Amanda Lifton, BOEM Administrator. “We’re dedicated to incorporating the perfect accessible science into our decision-making processes as we proceed to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s aim of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capability by 2030. With a whole-of-government method, we are able to leverage the experience and assets of our federal companions to make sure the accountable improvement of offshore wind energy.” .

In the course of the environmental evaluate of the primary offshore wind undertaking on the outer continental shelf of the USA, BOEM and NOAA fisheries recognized main detrimental impacts on surveys performed within the Northeast. In response, a draft survey mitigation technique was developed and made accessible for public remark earlier this 12 months. The technique is now accomplished, and it identifies the important parts to mitigate the impacts of offshore wind vitality improvement on surveys.

The 5 targets of the technique are:

• Mitigating the impacts of offshore wind vitality improvement on NOAA fisheries surveys.
• Consider and, the place relevant, combine monitoring research of wind vitality improvement with NOAA fisheries surveys.
• Plan and collaboratively implement the mitigation of a NOAA fisheries survey with companions, stakeholders, and different ocean customers utilizing the rules of finest accessible scientific info and co-production of data, together with native fishermen’s environmental data and conventional, indigenous environmental data.
• Implement this technique adaptively recognizing the long-term nature of surveys and the dynamic nature of wind vitality improvement, survey approach and method, marine ecosystems, and human makes use of of marine ecosystems.
• Superior coordination between NOAA Fisheries and BOEM in implementing this technique and sharing experiences and classes realized with different areas and international locations the place offshore wind vitality improvement is deliberate and initiated.

The technique—with a deal with New England and the mid-Atlantic—will function a mannequin for addressing offshore wind impacts on NOAA fisheries surveys in different areas. Nationally, NOAA Fisheries assesses the standing of roughly 450 fish shares, 200 marine mammal shares, and 165 threatened or endangered species (whereas recognizing that some marine mammals are additionally in danger). These assessments are based mostly on greater than 50 standardized, long-term surveys, a lot of which have been ongoing for greater than 30 years.

Offshore wind vitality improvement performs an essential position in the USA’ efforts to fight the local weather disaster and construct a clear vitality economic system. The White Home has set a aim of dramatically growing the nation’s offshore wind capability capability to 30 gigawatts by 2030 and an extra 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind expertise by 2035.

BOEM is the lead federal company answerable for leasing the USA’ outer continental shelf for marine vitality improvement. NOAA Fisheries is answerable for stewarding the nation’s residing marine assets together with fisheries, marine mammals, and endangered species, their habitats, and ecosystems. Each businesses share duties for useful resource administration, analysis, public engagement, and different necessities associated to selling offshore wind vitality improvement, defending biodiversity, and selling shared use of the oceans.