South Fork Wind Farm Reconnaissance Atlantic Cod Spawning Survey January - April 2018 Final Report

Balouskus, R.; Gervelis, B.; Carey, D. (2019). South Fork Wind Farm Reconnaissance Atlantic Cod Spawning Survey January - April 2018 Final Report. Report by INSPIRE Environmental. Report for Deepwater Wind.

@techreport{Balouskus-2019-2084210,
author = {Balouskus, R and Gervelis, B and Carey, D},
title = {South Fork Wind Farm Reconnaissance Atlantic Cod Spawning Survey January - April 2018 Final Report},
institution = {INSPIRE Environmental},
year = {2019},
month = {apr},
url = {https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/2018-Final-Report-SFWF-Cod-Survey.pdf},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Fish},
}

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TY - RPRT
TI - South Fork Wind Farm Reconnaissance Atlantic Cod Spawning Survey January - April 2018 Final Report
AU - Balouskus, R
AU - Gervelis, B
AU - Carey, D
AB - INSPIRE Environmental designed and conducted a reconnaissance Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) spawning survey (survey) at the request of Deepwater Wind South Fork LLC. to support the South Fork Wind Farm (SFWF) project (Figure 1-1). The survey was comprised of a hook and line investigation to assess the presence of Atlantic cod spawning activity at the proposed SFWF work area and at nearby designated areas during the winter and spring of 2018. The SFWF work area is a 1000 m buffered region around the proposed wind turbine generator locations, and comprises the area where work, including anchoring, may occur in the region. The hook and line survey assessed site-specific spawning activity of Atlantic cod by determining the maturation stage of collected adult Atlantic cod. Additionally, the survey collected environmental data at each survey location and documented the catch of other fish species present. This final survey report provides the rationale, design, methods, and results of the reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey conducted from January through April 2018.The survey was designed and conducted in consideration of several federal regulations and guidelines, as well as concerns raised by stakeholders regarding Atlantic cod spawning in the area of the SFWF:1. Construction and Operations Plan (COP) requirements pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585, specifically:§ 585.626 – Provide results of biological surveys with supporting data on fish populations.§ 585.627 – Assist BOEM in complying with NEPA and other relevant laws by providing detailed information on fish biological resources.2. BOEM Guidelines for Providing Information on Fisheries for Renewable Energy Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585 dated August 13, 2013, specifically;“Identify and confirm the dominant benthic, demersal, and pelagic fish species within the project footprint and surrounding areas.”“Collect additional information aimed at reducing uncertainty associated with existing fish data and/or to help inform the interpretation of survey results.”Produce survey results that identify “seasonal presence/absence of commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish.”3. Concerns raised by federal and state regulators as well as the recreational and commercial fishing industry about the potential presence and habitat utilization of spawning Atlantic cod in the SFWF work area.Data presented in this final survey report are used to characterize Atlantic cod and other marine fish sampled from January to April 2018, prior to permitting or construction of the SFWF. Atlantic cod spawning stage was assessed for all individuals caught at each location. In addition, environmental conditions including surface and bottom water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen (DO) were collected to allow the investigation of additional mechanisms that may contribute to Atlantic cod presence and spawning activity.1.1 Survey Goals and ObjectivesThe reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey aimed to:Identify if spawning stage Atlantic cod occur within the SFWF work area and at nearby designated areas.Nearby designated areas included an area of comparable habitat to the SFWF work area, and a ‘floating hot spot’ area, designated by the fishing vessel captain to maximize Atlantic cod catch.Identify and compare areas having relatively high catches of spawning stage Atlantic cod and areas having relatively low, or no spawning stage Atlantic cod.Provide descriptive results from this survey.The reconnaissance survey is designed to provide scientifically sound information on cod spawning activity and is not suited to statistical tests of whether spawning cod abundances in the SFWF work area differed significantly from that of nearby designated survey areas.1.2 Survey RationaleAtlantic cod is historically an important cultural and commercial species in New England and the population in southern New England has been declining in recent decades. Atlantic cod is believed to be dependent on geographically-specific (on the scale meters to tens of meters) spawning areas. Cod spawning on or near Cox Ledge, are thought to belong to a southern, winter-spawned complex to the south of Cape Cod (Zemeckis et al., 2014a). Cod spawning has been associated with bottom water temperatures that range from 0°C to 10°C (Brander, 1993) and areas of rough bottom habitat (Siceloff and Howell, 2013), such as rocky slopes (Meager et al., 2010) and cobble or boulder outcrops (Dean et al., 2012). Inter-annual spawning site fidelity has been well described through tagging/telemetry studies (Robichaud and Rose, 2001; Skjæraasen et al., 2011; Dean et al., 2014; Zemeckis et al., 2014b). These characteristics emphasize the importance of gathering site-specific information on Atlantic cod spawning near proposed offshore development.Atlantic cod abundance data are sparse in federal or state databases for the Rhode IslandMassachusetts Wind Energy Area and the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area. This includes areas within and around the SFWF work area. The data that do exist are too sparse in both time and space to conduct meaningful assessments. Much of the data that are available do not include spawning maturation staging, making the identification of spawning grounds impossible. The area in and around the SFWF work area is too rocky to be sampled by bottom trawls, effectively limiting the survey effort in the region by the NEFSC spring and fall trawl surveys. Therefore, the reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey was designed to collect additional data, using a proven fishing methodology for the habitat and species, to expand our knowledge of the area. Prior studies have used the maturity stage of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) as a proxy for the likelihood of spawning occurring at a location (Burchard et al., 2013, 2014). The reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey provides an initial set of data by which to assess potential spawning in and around the SFWF work area.Atlantic cod are known to actively feed while in spawning stage (Michalsen et al., 2008; Krumsick and Rose, 2012). Therefore, the use of hook and line methods, including jigging and baited hooks, was considered a prudent sampling methodology. The survey protocol incorporated various elements of recent studies that utilized angling techniques with feather hooks and jigs to capture spawning Atlantic cod (Robichaud and Rose, 2003; Dean et al., 2012; 2014; Hernandez et al., 2013). In general, compared with gill netting, hook and line sampling was viewed by researchers as a safer sampling technique to reduce bycatch and return immature Atlantic cod to the ecosystem.The survey protocol (INSPIRE, 2018) was distributed to state and federal agencies for review and comment in the fall of 2017. Written and verbal (webinar) comments and edits provided by agency personnel were incorporated into the survey design to the extent practicable.
DA - 2019/04//
PY - 2019
SP - 64
PB - INSPIRE Environmental
UR - https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/2018-Final-Report-SFWF-Cod-Survey.pdf
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Fish
ER -

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Abstract

INSPIRE Environmental designed and conducted a reconnaissance Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) spawning survey (survey) at the request of Deepwater Wind South Fork LLC. to support the South Fork Wind Farm (SFWF) project (Figure 1-1). The survey was comprised of a hook and line investigation to assess the presence of Atlantic cod spawning activity at the proposed SFWF work area and at nearby designated areas during the winter and spring of 2018. The SFWF work area is a 1000 m buffered region around the proposed wind turbine generator locations, and comprises the area where work, including anchoring, may occur in the region. The hook and line survey assessed site-specific spawning activity of Atlantic cod by determining the maturation stage of collected adult Atlantic cod. Additionally, the survey collected environmental data at each survey location and documented the catch of other fish species present. This final survey report provides the rationale, design, methods, and results of the reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey conducted from January through April 2018.

The survey was designed and conducted in consideration of several federal regulations and guidelines, as well as concerns raised by stakeholders regarding Atlantic cod spawning in the area of the SFWF:

1. Construction and Operations Plan (COP) requirements pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585, specifically:

§ 585.626 – Provide results of biological surveys with supporting data on fish populations.
§ 585.627 – Assist BOEM in complying with NEPA and other relevant laws by providing detailed information on fish biological resources.

2. BOEM Guidelines for Providing Information on Fisheries for Renewable Energy Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585 dated August 13, 2013, specifically;

“Identify and confirm the dominant benthic, demersal, and pelagic fish species within the project footprint and surrounding areas.”
“Collect additional information aimed at reducing uncertainty associated with existing fish data and/or to help inform the interpretation of survey results.”
Produce survey results that identify “seasonal presence/absence of commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish.”

3. Concerns raised by federal and state regulators as well as the recreational and commercial fishing industry about the potential presence and habitat utilization of spawning Atlantic cod in the SFWF work area.

Data presented in this final survey report are used to characterize Atlantic cod and other marine fish sampled from January to April 2018, prior to permitting or construction of the SFWF. Atlantic cod spawning stage was assessed for all individuals caught at each location. In addition, environmental conditions including surface and bottom water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen (DO) were collected to allow the investigation of additional mechanisms that may contribute to Atlantic cod presence and spawning activity.

1.1 Survey Goals and Objectives

The reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey aimed to:

Identify if spawning stage Atlantic cod occur within the SFWF work area and at nearby designated areas.
- Nearby designated areas included an area of comparable habitat to the SFWF work area, and a ‘floating hot spot’ area, designated by the fishing vessel captain to maximize Atlantic cod catch.
Identify and compare areas having relatively high catches of spawning stage Atlantic cod and areas having relatively low, or no spawning stage Atlantic cod.
Provide descriptive results from this survey.
- The reconnaissance survey is designed to provide scientifically sound information on cod spawning activity and is not suited to statistical tests of whether spawning cod abundances in the SFWF work area differed significantly from that of nearby designated survey areas.

1.2 Survey Rationale

Atlantic cod is historically an important cultural and commercial species in New England and the population in southern New England has been declining in recent decades. Atlantic cod is believed to be dependent on geographically-specific (on the scale meters to tens of meters) spawning areas. Cod spawning on or near Cox Ledge, are thought to belong to a southern, winter-spawned complex to the south of Cape Cod (Zemeckis et al., 2014a). Cod spawning has been associated with bottom water temperatures that range from 0°C to 10°C (Brander, 1993) and areas of rough bottom habitat (Siceloff and Howell, 2013), such as rocky slopes (Meager et al., 2010) and cobble or boulder outcrops (Dean et al., 2012). Inter-annual spawning site fidelity has been well described through tagging/telemetry studies (Robichaud and Rose, 2001; Skjæraasen et al., 2011; Dean et al., 2014; Zemeckis et al., 2014b). These characteristics emphasize the importance of gathering site-specific information on Atlantic cod spawning near proposed offshore development.

Atlantic cod abundance data are sparse in federal or state databases for the Rhode IslandMassachusetts Wind Energy Area and the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area. This includes areas within and around the SFWF work area. The data that do exist are too sparse in both time and space to conduct meaningful assessments. Much of the data that are available do not include spawning maturation staging, making the identification of spawning grounds impossible. The area in and around the SFWF work area is too rocky to be sampled by bottom trawls, effectively limiting the survey effort in the region by the NEFSC spring and fall trawl surveys. Therefore, the reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey was designed to collect additional data, using a proven fishing methodology for the habitat and species, to expand our knowledge of the area. Prior studies have used the maturity stage of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) as a proxy for the likelihood of spawning occurring at a location (Burchard et al., 2013, 2014). The reconnaissance Atlantic cod spawning survey provides an initial set of data by which to assess potential spawning in and around the SFWF work area.

Atlantic cod are known to actively feed while in spawning stage (Michalsen et al., 2008; Krumsick and Rose, 2012). Therefore, the use of hook and line methods, including jigging and baited hooks, was considered a prudent sampling methodology. The survey protocol incorporated various elements of recent studies that utilized angling techniques with feather hooks and jigs to capture spawning Atlantic cod (Robichaud and Rose, 2003; Dean et al., 2012; 2014; Hernandez et al., 2013). In general, compared with gill netting, hook and line sampling was viewed by researchers as a safer sampling technique to reduce bycatch and return immature Atlantic cod to the ecosystem.

The survey protocol (INSPIRE, 2018) was distributed to state and federal agencies for review and comment in the fall of 2017. Written and verbal (webinar) comments and edits provided by agency personnel were incorporated into the survey design to the extent practicable.

This document is related to the South Fork Wind Project Site.