(4/5/2019) - SMAST recently provided Vineyard Wind with recommendations for fisheries studies and monitoring for impacts before, during, and after construction. As suggested by NMFS these studies are designed to be “nested and modular”, with the intent for them to also support longer-term, regional studies. SMAST conducted four workshops with fishermen, with over 75 active fishermen participating, in developing its studies recommendations. In addition, Vineyard Wind engaged SMAST to conduct a trial “video trawl” survey in the Fall of 2018. Read SMAST’s full report and recommendations here. Vineyard Wind plans to initiate surveys based on SMAST’s recommendations in the Spring of 2019.
(3/29/2019) - A project update was provided at the March 29, 2019 Massachusetts Fisheries Working Group meeting. Vineyard Wind’s presentation materials and documents referenced are provided here.
SMAST provides report of fishermen workshops and recommendations for fisheries surveys and monitoring. The report’s recommendations are based on input from commercial fishermen, regulators, and academics. Key recommendations are for a committee of fishermen to provide on-going input into the fisheries survey process, and for a “modular and nested” design to integrate studies across projects, phases of projects, and with existing regional studies programs such as NEAMAP.
(2019) - Vineyard Wind engaged a fisheries economists to compile existing fisheries economics information from RI DEM, NMFS, and other sources to estimate total economic exposure, or landings value, from the project area by Rhode Island and Massachusetts fishermen. These reports inform compensatory mitigation planning for fishermen.
Visit our permitting page for information on opportunities for public comment, and current status of the permitting process.
Innovative video trawl survey method trialed by SMAST with funding from Vineyard Wind. Trial concludes that further development of the method is needed before it can be utilized in the area south of Martha’s Vineyard, due to bottom conditions.
SMAST conducts four workshops in Rhode Island and New Bedford and on Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod to solicit input in the study design from fishermen. Over 100 participants provide input, 75 of them active fishermen.
Vineyard Wind engages SMAST to design and undertake fisheries studies pertaining to the project, asking that SMAST identify issues and research questions most important to the commercial fishermen in the region, and provide recommendations for how studies related to project construction can also support long-term, regional studies efforts.
