ACOUSTIC MONITORING OF HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES IN RI/MA WIND ENERGY AREAS

Offshore wind mariner update NO. 81

STATUS: Active

The New England Aquarium and INSPIRE Environmental are conducting research on the movements of highly migratory fish species (sharks, tunas, and marlins) in the southern New England wind energy area. Part of this research requires acoustic receivers to be placed on the seafloor in the locations shown as colored circles in the charts below. Receivers have no surface buoys and are connected to a mooring system weighing approximately 75 pounds that extends 2 to 3 meters (6 to 9 feet) off the seafloor, as shown in the below photo. Receivers have been placed near obstructions to the greatest extent practicable to reduce the risk of interaction with mobile fishing gear. The 4 acoustic receivers in Lease Area 0501 will be deployed on May 12th , 2023 by the JESSICA BETH. Once all acoustic receivers are deployed, they will remain in these locations until December 15, 2023. The TORO and UNNAMED VESSEL (SEA LION 27 TE) will be tagging highly migratory fish species while acoustic receivers are deployed.

DATES(S): Deployment starts in May, tagging from June through September, retrieval in December

LOCATION(S): Lease Area 0501 (first map) RI/MA Wind Energy Areas (second map)