ACOUSTIC MONITORING OF HIGHLY MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES IN RI/MA WIND ENERGY AREAS (522-9)
The New England Aquarium and INSPIRE Environmental are conducting research on the movements of highly migratory fish species (sharks, tunas, and marlins) in the southern New England wind energy area. Part of this research requires acoustic receivers to be placed on the seafloor in the locations shown as colored circles in the charts below. Receivers have no surface buoys and are connected to a mooring system weighing approximately 75 pounds that extends 2 to 3 meters (6 to 9 feet) off the seafloor, as shown in the below photo. Receivers have been placed near obstructions to the greatest extent practicable to reduce the risk of interaction with mobile fishing gear. The 12 acoustic receivers in Lease Area 0522 will be deployed on June 1st , 2023. Once all acoustic receivers are deployed, they will remain in these locations until December 15, 2023.
LOCATION(S): Lease Area 0522 (first map) RI/MA Wind Energy Areas (second map)
DATE(S): Deployment starts May, tagging from June through September, retrieval in December
JESSICA BETH
Flag: USA
Length: 44’
MMSI #: 338470258
Captain: Shawn Leach
Standing by on VHF channel 13 & 16
TORO
Flag: USA
Length: 30’
MMSI #: 338453955
Captain: Diego Bernal
UNNAMED VESSEL (SEA LION 27 TE)
Flag: USA
Length: 27’
MMSI #: 338487373
Captain: Jeff Kneebone
For the latest information, please contact:
Crista Bank, Fisheries Manager, Cell: 508-525-0421 • Email: cbank@vineyardoffshore.com
Jeannot Smith, Marine Liaison, Cell: 904-613-0134 • Email: jsmith@vineyardoffshore.com
Travis Lowery, Fisheries Liaison, Cell: 508-728-4529 • Email: tlowery@vineyardoffshore.com