Facilitating resilience and adaptation in commercial fisheries in response to offshore renewable energy development and climate change

About

In order to prevent the most severe impacts to marine ecosystems, rapid decarbonization is needed. One solution lies in ocean-based renewable energy sources like wind, wave, and tidal power. Specifically, offshore wind energy shows promise, especially along the U.S. West Coast. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has already leased areas off the coast of California for offshore wind development. Additionally, plans are underway for leasing and possible development of similar projects off the coasts of Oregon, Hawaii, and the Pacific Island Territories.

The introduction of offshore wind development may impact commercial fisheries in a variety of ways, including changes in fishing locations, harvest levels, and operating costs. Fishermen already grapple with climate change impacts such as shifting species ranges, harvested population shocks, and changes in ocean productivity. The combined effects of offshore wind development and climate change could lead to new fishing grounds emerging and potential conflicts over resource use. Thus, an area that does not have conflicting uses today could have conflicting uses in the future. It is essential that we understand climate change and offshore wind development separate and combined effects on West Coast fisheries is critical to successfully addressing and mitigating potential impacts. This study aims to assess how these impacts may affect fishery outcomes like harvest and revenue. Critically, we are investigating key mitigation strategies that enhance the resilience and adaptability of the commercial fishing industry.

Approach

This two-year research project involves a multidisciplinary team of ecologists, fisheries economists, and data scientists, who have prior experience studying the ecological effects of climate change and the socioeconomic impacts of offshore wind on fisheries. We are building on ongoing research that focused on assessing the implications of offshore wind farm development on West Coast commercial fisheries by adding the important component of climate change. Our team will identify key climate change archetypes, or categories of fishery impacts due to climate change, based on an analysis of existing literature and data focused on the historical impacts of climate change along the U.S. West Coast (California, Oregon, and Washington). We are also analyzing the current spatial footprint of West Coast commercial fisheries and the projected future distributions of fished species to predict changes in fishery outcomes resulting from the interaction between offshore wind development and climate change. Finally, we will identify strategies for mitigating the individual and joint impacts of these stressors on fishing communities, relying on input from fishing industry participants including commercial fishermen, members of Tribes, and representatives from state agencies in regions where OSW development is expected. This project will be in collaboration with partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Partners

This is a collaboration between emLab, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Northwest Fisheries Indian Commission, and a CA state partner. Funding is provided by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, US Dept. of the Interior.