States from Massachusetts to Virginia have made significant commitments to power millions of homes with the massive clean energy source available off our shores. While this is new to U.S. waters, offshore wind turbines have been spinning elsewhere in the world for nearly three decades. This proven technology holds great potential for the U.S. to produce electricity right where it is most needed, reduce pollution that is harming fish, and create good-paying jobs.
What's in it for the Fish?
Anglers have first hand experience with the impacts of fossil fuel pollution as they have seen warming waters, species like black sea bass migrating north, rising sea levels, and fish consumption advisories from mercury contamination. Offshore wind power is America’s best untapped energy source that can address these pollution problems while creating artificial reef structure that attracts fish and their prey.
Research from nearly three decades of offshore wind development in Europe has found significant marine life activity around the turbine bases. Scientists have seen up to four tons of mussels at just one turbine, and an overall increase in marine biomass in the areas where offshore wind power has been developed in the North Sea and English Channel. While fisheries studies are ongoing at America’s first offshore wind farm off of Block Island, Rhode Island, many area charter captains and anglers have reported positive fishing experiences since the foundations were installed in 2015.
Principles for Responsible Development
Those of us who love to fish offshore stand to benefit from responsibly developed offshore wind projects, but only if we are at the table. Anglers for Offshore Wind Power promotes a set principles for responsible development: guaranteed fishing access; ongoing monitoring of fisheries impacts; and opportunities for public input on projects and permitting. We’ve seen this thoughtful approach to development work firsthand at America’s first and only offshore wind farm off of Block Island, Rhode Island, and in the video below, you can see it too.
What's in it for the Fish?
Anglers have first hand experience with the impacts of fossil fuel pollution as they have seen warming waters, species like black sea bass migrating north, rising sea levels, and fish consumption advisories from mercury contamination. Offshore wind power is America’s best untapped energy source that can address these pollution problems while creating artificial reef structure that attracts fish and their prey.
Research from nearly three decades of offshore wind development in Europe has found significant marine life activity around the turbine bases. Scientists have seen up to four tons of mussels at just one turbine, and an overall increase in marine biomass in the areas where offshore wind power has been developed in the North Sea and English Channel. While fisheries studies are ongoing at America’s first offshore wind farm off of Block Island, Rhode Island, many area charter captains and anglers have reported positive fishing experiences since the foundations were installed in 2015.
Principles for Responsible Development
Those of us who love to fish offshore stand to benefit from responsibly developed offshore wind projects, but only if we are at the table. Anglers for Offshore Wind Power promotes a set principles for responsible development: guaranteed fishing access; ongoing monitoring of fisheries impacts; and opportunities for public input on projects and permitting. We’ve seen this thoughtful approach to development work firsthand at America’s first and only offshore wind farm off of Block Island, Rhode Island, and in the video below, you can see it too.
Please share this video with your friends, on social media, or however you can to help share the story of how responsibly developed offshore wind power can make recreational fishing better. As offshore wind power development ramps up, now is the time to get engaged to ensure offshore wind power develops in a way that works for recreational anglers.
What's Ahead
States governments have made significant policy commitments to power the homes of their residents with offshore wind energy. On average, 500 homes can be powered from 1 megawatt of offshore wind power. That means that current state commitments represent over 13 million homes being powered by offshore wind!
Each of the projects requires state and federal permits that have extensive stakeholder engagement processes. We will be involved each step of the way and will keep you up to date with the latest information as well as opportunities to engage online and in person.
What's Ahead
States governments have made significant policy commitments to power the homes of their residents with offshore wind energy. On average, 500 homes can be powered from 1 megawatt of offshore wind power. That means that current state commitments represent over 13 million homes being powered by offshore wind!
Each of the projects requires state and federal permits that have extensive stakeholder engagement processes. We will be involved each step of the way and will keep you up to date with the latest information as well as opportunities to engage online and in person.