Pilot Studies for Regional Fisheries Monitoring in Relation to Massachusetts and Rhode Island Offshore Wind Areas

Description
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), in conjunction with the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA), looked to estimate the relative abundance and distribution of larval lobster and fish using a towed neuston net; and zooplankton, specifically copepods, using a towed ring net with 102 µm-mesh. This study was conducted from May 2020 to November 2020 (larval lobster) and May and June of 2021 (copepods) at 30 stations that were randomly selected and distributed. This randomness is based on the proportional total area within each ten-meter depth contour of the 3670 km2 study area. In 2020, a 10-minute tow was conducted at each station to assess pre-settlement abundance and distribution of larval lobster and fish. In 2021, a 90-second tow was conducted at each station to assess abundance and distribution of zooplankton in the area. The planktonic invertebrate sampling served as a pilot for the regional fisheries monitoring program for southern New England to improve understanding of fish and fish habitat in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island wind energy areas.
Award Amount
USD: $1,096,688
Funding
Type
award
Funder
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program
Funder ID
https://doi.org/10.13039/100012475
Award Dates
2020-04-23 → 2023-04-22
Award Number
M20AC00006
DOI / Resource
DOI
Resource
https://boem.gov/awardpages/100393
Field Xml File
100393.xml (2.96 KB)
  • ROR:https://ror.org/03tzscr25
    Series Title:BOEM Environmental Studies
    ISSN:3071-6349
    Report Title:Passive acoustic telemetry as a tool to monitor the baseline presence and persistence of highly migratory fish species in popular recreational fishing grounds within the Southern New England wind energy area
    Authors:B Gervelis, J Kneebone
    Publication Year:2022
    Publisher:U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program
    Place:Sterling, VA
    Report Number:BOEM 2022-059
    Contract #:M20AC00006
    Award DOI:10.67297/9A1EA9
    Report DOI:10.67297/01B169
    Field Xml File
    110953.xml (2.84 KB)
  • ROR:https://ror.org/03tzscr25
    Series Title:BOEM Environmental Studies
    ISSN:3071-6349
    Report Title:Larval lobster and fish neuston net survey for regional fisheries monitoring in southern New England offshore wind development
    Authors:KDE Stokesbury, K Cassidy, TM Lowery, R Norton, A Painten
    Publication Year:2023
    Publisher:U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program
    Place:Sterling, VA
    Report Number:BOEM 2022-070
    Contract #:M20AC00006
    Award DOI:10.67297/9A1EA9
    Report DOI:10.67297/01B1CC
    Field Xml File
    111052.xml (3.17 KB)
  • ROR:https://ror.org/03tzscr25
    Series Title:BOEM Environmental Studies
    ISSN:3071-6349
    Report Title:Zooplankton survey for regional fisheries monitoring in Southern New England offshore wind development
    Authors:J Turner, E Weig
    Publication Year:2023
    Publisher:U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program
    Place:Sterling, VA
    Report Number:BOEM 2023-027
    Contract #:M20AC00006
    Award DOI:10.67297/9A1EA9
    Report DOI:10.67297/01B1CD
    Field Xml File
    111053.xml (2.73 KB)