Working with Fisheries Stakeholders for Marine Spatial Planning and Renewable Energy

Working with Fisheries Stakeholders for Marine Spatial Planning and Renewable Energy

 

The Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) was developed to provide the RI Coastal Resources Management Council with a management tool for existing offshore resources and uses as well as potential future uses, including renewable energy projects. The plan was completed in 2010 after two years of stakeholder interaction and plan development.  The fisheries stakeholders included fishermen, fishery managers, and environmentalists. The fishermen were determined by the SAMP team to be the group most impacted by offshore development.  The fishermen raised many concerns during the process, most of which require scientific research to address.  The scientific concerns include: the effects of electromagnetic fields on fish and crustacean movement, circulation patterns and larval transport, noise effects on fish and marine mammals, impacts on adult and juvenile fish habitat, and weather impacts.  This presentation will consider the scientific and social topics of concern by the fishing industry and illustrate the variety of research projects that are needed.