Abstract
This Fisheries and Benthic Research Monitoring Plan (FMP/BMP) has been developed in
accordance with recommendations set forth in “Guidelines for Providing Information on
Fisheries for Renewable Energy Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf” (BOEM
2019), which state that a fishery survey plan should aim to:
• Identify and confirm which dominant benthic, demersal, and pelagic species are using the
project site, and when these species may be present where development is proposed;
• Establish a pre-construction baseline which may be used to assess whether detectable
changes associated with proposed operations occurred in post-construction abundance
and distribution of fisheries;
• Collect additional information aimed at reducing uncertainty associated with baseline
estimates and/or to inform the interpretation of research results; and
• Develop an approach to quantify any substantial changes in the distribution and
abundance of fisheries associated with proposed operations.
BOEM also provides guidance related to specific survey gears that can be used to complete the fisheries monitoring including otter trawl, beam trawl, gillnet/trammel net, and ventless traps. BOEM guidelines stipulate that two years of pre-construction fisheries monitoring data are recommended, and that data should be collected across all four seasons. Consultations with BOEM and other agencies are encouraged during the development of fisheries monitoring plans. BOEM also encourages wind developers to review existing data, and to seek input from the local fishing industry to select survey equipment and sampling protocols that are appropriate for the area of interest. Benthic monitoring that is planned for New York state waters is described in a separate monitoring plan.