Gulf fish managers tour local wind farms
Fish managers from the Gulf of Mexico Marine Fisheries Commission toured the South Fork and Block Island wind farms this week. They were interested in the process Rhode Island and Massachusetts used to develop and build offshore wind farms.
The South Fork Wind Farm (24 miles south of Newport) just completed its first phase of construction in 2½ months, which includes 12 30-foot diameter monopiles for turbines and one monopile for a substation. All pylons had been installed with 70 feet of structure extended from the water to a platform. The group was aboard the Lady Frances party boat out of Point Judith that they hired for the trip.
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“Now we will be installing the white parts,” said John Mansolillo, Northeast marine affairs manager for Ørsted, the wind farm developer. “We will be working through the fall to install the full towers, turbines and blades.” Ørsted’s website states that the company aims to have the wind farm operational by the end of this year.
The Gulf Commission asked me to accompany them with many others, including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regional and national staff members; Jennifer McCann from the Rhode Island Sea Grant at the University Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography; Danielle McKiernan, director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries; Julia Livermore of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; and David Clochette of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.
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Steve VanderKooy, the Gulf Commission's staff leader, sought questions from the group, including: “When was the research done to establish lease areas in the northeast? How was state input accounted for in the federal siting process? What type of fish and habitat research was done prior to construction? How long was the planning phase?"
The real treat for all on board were the six whales we saw just as we were leaving the wind farm area, including two humpbacks and a pod of dolphins. Our vessel captain, Frank Blount, did a great job bringing the whales into sight.
Pelagic fish, such as bluefin and yellowfin tuna, have been caught in the wind farm area during this first phase of construction. A researcher on board shared a photo of a 110-pound yellowfin tuna he caught, tagged and released in the South Fork Wind Farm last month.
Also last week, Vineyard Wind, located between South Fork and Martha’s Vineyard, completed its first phase of construction on nine pylons. In an advisory sent this week, Christa Bank, Vineyard Wind fisheries manager, said: “We will start installing towers and turbines this month and throughout the year.”
Mariners should use caution when traveling near South Fork Wind Farm. The pylons under construction are marked with quick flashing yellow lights. Once full turbine towers are installed, pylons will have automatic identification systems and sound signals will be added to some towers. Construction vessels, several scientific buoys and newly installed foundations are in the area. Update charts by checking with the U.S. Coast Guard and Ørsted Mariners updates (us.orsted.com/mariners).
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and bluefish. “We have school bass being caught in the East and West Passages of Narragansett Bay," said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick. "The Green Island in Warwick area has been good as well as Greenwich Bay, with monster bluefish popping up on the surface.” Phil Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina in South Kingstown said: “The bass bite at the southeast corner of Block Island has been good for customers.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown reported: “There has been a good number of striped bass being caught from the Breachway and back in the salt pond. Live eels have been producing well and they are also being caught on soft plastics and spooks.” Fred DeFinis of Middletown said: “A mix of school bass and bluefish were in the lower Sakonnet River this week. Feeding on very small silversides — barely over an inch long. Smallest bait I have ever seen. My guess is that the striped bass are just vacuuming them up so they are very fussy.”
Tautog. Fishing off Point Judith has been good with anglers catching their limit close to shore. “Few reports on keeper-size fish being caught off Newport or in Narragansett Bay,” Giddings said.
Fluke, black sea bass and scup. “There are a few nice fluke around and those putting in their time have been finding fish up to around 8 pounds off of the local beaches," O'Donnell said. "There seems to be a slight pickup in fluke bite out at Block as well. Black sea bass fishing continues to produce quick limits and there are plenty of nice-sized scup around.” Giddings reported: “Fluke are being caught in from of Warwick Light right near the red can.'
Bonito, false albacore, tuna. “Customers caught both bonito and false albacore at the West Wall in the Harbor of Refuge," Cahill said. "So the bite is on for both. The tuna bite slowed just a bit this week with bad weather preventing many from going fishing.” O’Donnell said: “There have been reports of a few green bonito caught locally but no one has reported catching false albacore yet. Bait is starting to school up in the salts ponds. Tuna fishing last week was good south of Block Island for both bluefin and yellowfin.”
“Freshwater fishing is good with anglers using bait and drop shot from boats for largemouth bass," Giddings said. "Warwick Pond and Gorton Pond are producing with a nice 6-pound largemouth caught by a customer fishing Little Pond behind Warwick Vets.
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Gulf fisheries managers seek input on wind farm impacts
