There is increasing interest in the development of offshore wind energy projects to supply electricity to growing coastal populations. How these projects may affect commercially or ecologically important fish species is unknown. This study was conducted to document the occurrence and distribution of a commercial fish species, winter skate (Leucoraja ocellata), and an endangered species, Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus), over a two-year period in the Delaware Wind Energy Lease Area using acoustic telemetry. A total of 124,710 acoustic detections from 26 species were recorded at stations around the perimeter of the Delaware Wind Energy Lease Area, allowing us to summarize areas of intensive use, and environmental predictors of occurrence of key species.

USD: $431,898

2016-08-08 → 2020-03-01