Population Dynamics of Black Sea Bass in an Offshore Habitat Scheduled for Windfarm Development.

Painten, Andie*, Kevin Stokesbury, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology, New Bedford, MA

The North Atlantic stock of Black sea bass (Centropristis striata), supports an important commercial and recreational fishery. In Southern New England, Black sea bass (BSB) migrate inshore to spawn starting in early spring until water temperatures decline in fall, triggering the species to move offshore for the winter. The stock’s positive response to warming water temperature has increased abundance and expanded their distribution further north and offshore. BSB essential habitat overlaps with areas leased for offshore wind development. For a structure-seeking species like BSB, the offshore wind farms may act as a biological sink attracting the species to concentrate in the structurally complex area, or a reef, providing the food, shelter, and habitat spatially allowing a complete life-cycle within a new environment resulting in increased abundance and a new population. We classified population dynamics of the BSB occupying the area of the first planned offshore wind farm, located 28 kilometers south of Martha’s Vineyard. Ventless trap surveys in 2019 and 2020 cover the northern development area and an adjacent control area; both areas are of similar size and depth. BSB were collected biweekly from 30 randomly placed stations from May-October for biological analysis. Preliminary results indicate a large presence of BSB in the control area once they arrive in August. Offshore wind farms have the potential to re-distribute a species like BSB or enhance their population.