Socioeconomic Impacts of Atlantic Offshore Wind Development

Six areas off of New York and New Jersey were recently leased for wind energy development for $4.37 billion dollars. Expansion of wind energy is an important step toward addressing climate change, while also protecting biodiversity and promoting ocean co-use. As a tool to understand impacts to fisheries (and to promote ocean co-use), NOAA Fisheries has developed a website that summarizes fishing activity within each offshore wind lease or project area. This is one example of many efforts to advance the necessary science and research on the impacts of this new industry on the Northeast U.S. Shelf ecosystem. NOAA Fisheries will continue to work with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Northeast Regional Coordinating Council, other partners, and stakeholders to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of offshore wind energy on marine ecosystems, fisheries, and protected species.