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How would the proposed Humboldt offshore wind project affect fish?

The main concerns (1) regarding impacts to fish are related to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) (2) and impacts (3) to the upwelling system. There are also potential benefits to fish from the offshore wind farms. On the East Coast, offshore wind turbine platforms are acting as artificial reefs (4) that enhance fish habitat. Some researchers have also theorized that, by reducing fishing, offshore wind farms can also benefit fish species in ways similar to a marine protected area (5).

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Click here to read more about potential impacts to fish due to floating offshore wind in California (7) from the California Ocean Science Trust in July 2024.

Quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger).

Quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger).

Source: CDFW (6)

References

  1. Vanderhein, I. (2022, December 1). North Coast Fisherman Fear for the Future of Commercial Fisheries as Offshore Wind Efforts Advance. Lost Coast Outpost. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2022/dec/1/offshore-wind/ 

  2. U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. (2023, December). Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) from Offshore Wind Facilities. www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/state-activities/BOEM-Electromagnetic-Fields-Offshore-Wind-Facilities_1.pdf 

  3. Raghukumar, K., Nelson, T., Chang, G., et al. (2024, February 27). A Numerical Modeling Framework to Evaluate Effects of Offshore Wind Farms on California’s Coastal Upwelling Ecosystem. California Energy Commission. www.energy.ca.gov/publications/2024/numerical-modeling-framework-evaluate-effects-offshore-wind-farms-californias 

  4. The Nature Conservancy. (2024, June 4). Turbine Reefs: Designing Offshore Wind Power to Improve Habitat for Marine Life. www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/wind-turbines-restoring-habitat/ 

  5. Ashley, M.C., Mangi, S.C., and Rodwell, L.D. (2014, March). The potential of offshore windfarms to act as marine protected areas – A systematic review of current evidence. Marine Policy, 45: 301-309. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X13001991

  6. NOAA Fisheries. (2023, December 14). Overfished Declaration for Quillback Rockfish off California Likely to Limit Fishing. www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/overfished-declaration-quillback-rockfish-california-likely-limit-fishing

  7. California Ocean Science Trust. (2024, July). Impacts to Fish and Seafloor Habitats. www.oceansciencetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OST-Science-Factsheet-5-Fish-Final.pdf

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