Abstract
The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF), with the assistance of the fishing vessel (F/V), Harvest Moon, have completed the first year of the South Fork Wind Farm predevelopment ventless fish pot survey for demersal fisheries resources. The survey is conducted to determine the spatial scale of potential impacts on the abundance and distribution of juvenile and adult fish species, particularly structured associated finfish such as black sea bass, scup, and tautog as a result of South Fork Wind Farm development. In particular, the survey is designed to determine if the immediate areas, closest to the turbines, experience alteration in the distribution and abundance of the above identified structure associated fish species as a result of the turbines creating a “reef effect” due to the addition of new structure in the South Fork area. The South Fork Wind development area was sampled once per month from June through December 2021. Within the development area, eight turbine locations were sampled with a single string of ventless fish pots at each location. Each string of ventless fish pots consisted of 18 identical ventless fish pots evenly spaced at 50-meter increments with the first pot of the string set on the exact location of a potential turbine and the last pot of the string set due south of the turbine. Monthly, each pot was baited and left to soak for 24-hours prior to sampling. Sampling consisted of speciating the catch from each pot and recording total number of individuals and total weight of each species per pot. Individual lengths were recorded for the above identified target species as well as other fish species. Individual weights were also recorded when feasible for target species. Oceanographic data was obtained at each sampling stations with a conductivity, temperature, and depth cast and temperature loggers. The catch throughout the first year of sampling exhibited a strong seasonal component and was dominated by a handful of species. Catch was relatively low the first two months of the survey and was largely comprised of rock crabs. Catch increased substantially in August and remained high through the rest of the survey season with the catch dominated by black sea bass and Jonah crabs with a consistent presence of scup.