Abstract
The Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf generates approximately USD 500 million ex-vessel revenues annually, making it one of the most valuable single species fisheries in the United States. Wind energy development is planned for key areas on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic shelf where the Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates, creating novel challenges in managing trade-offs between traditional users like fisheries and new users like offshore wind energy. An agent-based modeling framework that integrates spatial dynamics in Atlantic sea scallop stock biology, fishing fleet behavior, and federal management decisions, was implemented to investigate how offshore wind energy infrastructure may directly affect the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. The effect of current and planned wind energy lease areas on Atlantic sea scallop was evaluated with simulations that restricted Atlantic sea scallop fishing in lease areas, transiting lease areas by the fishing fleet, or both. The relative effects of these restrictions were measured against a simulation without any restrictions.
Simulations indicated that wind energy lease areas have minor impacts on the present-day fishery, with changes in days fished, landings per unit effort, and total fishing trips under 5% with impacts varying across development scenarios and fishing ports. These results suggest offshore wind development may have limited impacts on fishing. However, these changes can be magnified by the value of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery, resulting in substantial economic impacts. Imposed restrictions on fishing location and transiting lease areas resulted in spatial shifts in fishing trips, with larger changes associated with the larger proposed wind lease area footprints, particularly in the southern part of the Atlantic sea scallop range. The largest negative effect of wind restrictions was the reduction in Atlantic sea scallop biomass outside of the lease areas (∼4–9%), likely due to effort displacement, even though the total stock biomass remained relatively unchanged. The simulation results highlight the need for a holistic approach to assessing the complex interactions between offshore wind energy lease areas, Atlantic sea scallop stock dynamics, and fishing vessel transit routes to accurately identify and address potential impacts. This information is critical for fishers and managers to assess mitigation approaches and serves as a valuable tool for future planning amid interactions between commercial fisheries, the offshore wind energy industry, and changing environmental conditions.