Highlighting the coexistence of marine life and offshore wind turbines, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW), based at the University of Delaware, have released a new video featuring never-before-seen underwater footage of fish feeding at America’s first offshore wind farm, as well as testimonials from local recreational fishermen and charter captains.
“We’re in the process of unlocking an entirely new American ocean energy resource with offshore wind. As the industry scales up in the U.S., communities up and down our coasts, especially in the Northeast, will want to know what offshore wind means for them,” says Stephanie McClellan, director for SIOW. “When it comes to fishing, the science is convincing, but ultimately, seeing is believing. That’s why we took an underwater videographer to Block Island to see for ourselves.”
AWEA notes that offshore wind is scaling up in the U.S., with the federal government and states including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut all taking significant actions recently. America’s first offshore project, the Block Island Wind Farm, located off the coast of Block Island, R.I., was completed just over a year ago in late 2016.
“There’s a frenzy of fish and other marine life making a new home near the Block Island turbine foundations, which act as artificial reefs,” continues McClellan. “U.S. energy consumers and workers aren’t the only ones excited to see offshore wind come to American shores. Marine life is thriving, as studies confirm.”
According to AWEA, Block Island electricity rates are down, tourism is up and the island has access to high-speed internet for the first time because of the project. Block Island resident Chris Hobe is captain and owner at Fish the World Charters, a small business that has seen new opportunities taking tourists to see the turbines up close.
“During the charter season, I was taking people out to the wind farm almost every day,” says Hobe. “Even though I wasn’t out there to fish, I’m always scanning the bottom, and it’s clear there are a lot of fish active at the wind farm. People never used to fish that spot before the turbines, and now it’s really popular.”
A recent study from Europe, where hundreds of offshore wind turbines are already installed, found that a single turbine can support up to four metric tons of shellfish – which, in turn, attracts fish to the area, explains AWEA.
“Offshore wind is great news for sports fishermen,” concludes McClellan. “And the wind industry is committed to making offshore wind work for the entire fishing community. We strongly believe American fishermen of all stripes can prosper while we develop this new American ocean energy resource.”