NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today highlighted the availability of new State of the Ecosystem Reports for New England and Mid-Atlantic, the findings of which will be discussed during a public webinar on Wednesday, May 11.
Among other things, the reports address the effects of offshore wind development on fisheries, with NMFS stating that “rapid buildout will have a greater impact” on the Mid-Atlantic than New England and citing potential benefits to species that prefer hard structured habitat and potential negative effects on species that prefer soft bottom habitat. The reports also identify environmental justice concerns for fishing communities vulnerable to changes in fishing patterns.
The annual State of the Ecosystem reports provide updates on the current status of the Northeast Shelf marine ecosystems and inform fishery managers of changing ecosystem conditions.
