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WASHINGTON DC / ACCESSWIRE / February 26, 2024 / The Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF) submitted: extensive comments Submission to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regarding the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the New York Bight Wind Energy Area. FSF, which represents the majority of full-time limited access scallop fishers on the East Coast, believes the draft PEIS will help the federal government address the impacts of offshore wind development on one of the most valuable scallop fisheries. It raised serious concerns about its inadequacies. Managing commercial fisheries in the United States.
FSF believes that although the draft PEIS is based on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), it does not adequately mitigate the impacts of offshore wind development on mid-Atlantic scallop resources. They claim that the drug is not sufficiently effective. Reduce interference from wind power plants with scallop fishing activities.
The full text of the FSF’s comments is below. available here.
Concerns raised by the FSF:
- Inadequate mitigation measures: FSF argues that avoidance, minimization, mitigation and monitoring measures (AMMM) proposed in the draft PEIS do not adequately protect mid-Atlantic scallop stocks from the negative impacts of offshore wind farm development. . These measures are not considered sufficient to prevent disruption to or endangerment of scallop fishing operations within the New York Bay Wind Farm.
- Ignored alternatives: The submission criticizes the draft PEIS for minimizing impacts to fisheries and rejecting the development of alternatives that minimize impacts to pelagic habitats. The FSF argues that these alternatives, which are important for the sustainable coexistence of scallop fishing and wind energy development, have not been adequately considered.
- Economic effect and rental area: FSF highlights that wind farm development has a significant economic impact on the scallop fishery, with historic landings from leased areas of New York Bay increasing by 2.5% between 2008 and 2021. It exceeds $36 million. The organization points out that the leased areas subject to early development are also the areas with the highest volume of scallops landed, and there are concerns that this will have a disproportionate impact on the scallop fishery.
- Environmental and operational concerns: FSF emphasizes that the draft PEIS underestimates environmental impacts on scallop habitat, including changes in hydrodynamics, sedimentation, benthic and overall pelagic environments. These environmental changes pose significant risks to the distribution, establishment, and survival of scallop larvae. Additionally, operational challenges for scallop fishing within wind farm areas have been highlighted as a major concern due to increased hazards and limited maneuverability.
In response to these critical issues, the Fisheries Survival Fund urges BOEM to undertake a comprehensive reassessment of the draft PEIS. The law firm focuses on ensuring the protection of this important industry while minimizing impacts to the scallop fishery and its habitat and promoting responsible offshore wind development. It calls for the inclusion of alternatives that have hitherto been overlooked.
Participating in a full-time limited access scallop fishery on the East Coast, FSF and its members aim for a balanced approach that supports both sustainable energy development and energy conservation, and address these concerns comprehensively. We stand ready to engage in further dialogue with BOEM to address this. America’s precious scallop fishery.
About the Fisheries Survival Fund
The Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF) was established in 1998 to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Atlantic scallop fishery. FSF participants include the majority of commercial Atlantic scallop fishermen from Maine to North Carolina. The FSF is working with academic institutions and independent scientific experts to promote collaborative research and help sustain this fully rebuilt fishery. FSF also works with the federal government to ensure fisheries are managed responsibly.
press contact
David E. Fleura
Kelly Dry & Warren Law Offices
(202) 342-8648
[email protected]
sauce: Fisheries Survival Fund
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