Fisheries looks to standardize offshore wind monitoring – The Martha’s Vineyard Times

Report on Standardized Monitoring for Offshore Wind Projects and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction and Call for Public Comment

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Northeast Fisheries Science Center has released a draft of regional monitoring standards to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of offshore wind energy projects. The agency is actively soliciting public feedback on these proposed standards, with a submission deadline of November 3. The initiative aims to create a cohesive framework for data collection across various projects located in the Mid-Atlantic Bight and Southern New England lease areas.

2.0 Objectives and Strategic Importance

The primary objective of this initiative is to standardize data collection methodologies across all offshore wind developments. This standardization is critical for ensuring that data is comparable, enabling comprehensive ecosystem-level and socio-economic analyses. The insights gained will inform future marine resource conservation strategies and fishery management decisions, directly supporting long-term sustainability objectives.

1. Data Comparability: To ensure monitoring data from individual wind projects can be aggregated and compared for regional-scale analysis.
2. Ecosystem Analysis: To facilitate the use of collected data in advanced models that assess cumulative impacts on the marine environment.
3. Informed Decision-Making: To provide a scientific basis for future decisions regarding marine conservation and the management of fisheries.

3.0 Scope of Monitoring and Linkage to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The draft standards recommend a multi-faceted monitoring approach to evaluate effects that extend beyond individual project lease areas. The framework is designed to address key sustainability pillars, aligning closely with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Marine Ecosystems and Species (SDG 14: Life Below Water): Assessing impacts on protected species, fisheries species, and their habitats to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
• Physical Oceanography (SDG 14: Life Below Water): Monitoring changes in hydrodynamics and oceanographic conditions to understand broader effects on the marine environment.
• Socio-Economic Conditions (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth): Evaluating the effects on the fishing industry and coastal communities to safeguard economic livelihoods and promote sustainable economic practices.
• Clean Energy Infrastructure (SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy & SDG 13: Climate Action): The development itself contributes to clean energy goals, and this monitoring ensures it is pursued in an environmentally responsible manner.

4.0 Implementation and Stakeholder Concerns

The proposed guidelines are intended for implementation by offshore wind developers as part of their project-level monitoring programs, which are mandated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This collaborative approach between NOAA, BOEM, and private developers exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

However, stakeholders from the fishing industry, including the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, have raised concerns. A primary issue is the potential impact of wind farm infrastructure on the ability of federal agencies to conduct standardized fish stock assessments, which are vital for sustainable harvest management and the economic viability of the industry (SDG 8). There is also uncertainty regarding whether these new standards will be retroactively applied to projects that have already been approved. The draft document highlights the “immediate” need for standardization as several projects are already under construction.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses issues that connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on offshore wind energy, marine ecosystems, and the fishing industry’s socio-economic aspects links directly to the following SDGs:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The entire context of the article is the development of offshore wind projects, which are a key source of renewable and clean energy.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is a central theme, as the monitoring standards are being developed specifically to “evaluate the effects of offshore wind projects on marine species, their habitats.” The article emphasizes marine resource conservation and the health of marine ecosystems.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article highlights the potential impact on the “larger fishing industry” and “socio-economic conditions.” It addresses the concerns of commercial fishermen whose livelihoods depend on sustainable fish stocks, linking the new energy development to the economic well-being of existing industries.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article describes a multi-stakeholder effort involving government agencies (NOAA, BOEM), private entities (offshore wind developers), and civil society (Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association). The process of collecting public comment and standardizing data across projects exemplifies a partnership approach to achieving sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article is predicated on the construction of offshore wind projects, which directly contributes to this target by increasing the supply of renewable energy.
• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The draft monitoring standards are explicitly designed to assess the effects of wind farms on “marine species, their habitats” to inform “future marine resource conservation,” directly aligning with the goal of protecting marine ecosystems from adverse impacts.
• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans. The article notes that “Commercial fishermen rely on stock assessments to regulate the amount of fish they’re able to sustainably harvest.” The concern about the ability of federal agencies to continue standardized stock assessments within wind farms connects directly to this target of using science-based plans for sustainable fishing.
• Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology… in order to improve ocean health. The initiative to create “standardized monitoring” so that “data can be compared across all projects and used in ecosystem and socio-economic analyses and models” is a clear effort to increase scientific knowledge and research capacity for better ocean management.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The process described, where a government agency (NOAA) develops draft standards, seeks “public comment” from civil society groups (Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association), and applies these standards to private offshore wind developers, is a textbook example of a multi-stakeholder partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 7.2: The physical construction and operation of offshore wind projects. The article confirms this is happening by stating, “construction of some projects are already underway.” The number of projects and their energy-generating capacity would be a direct indicator.
• Indicators for Target 14.2: Data on the health and population of “protected species” and “fisheries species,” as well as the condition of their “habitats.” The monitoring standards are designed to collect this specific data, which would serve as the primary indicators of ecosystem impact.
• Indicator for Target 14.4: The continuation and quality of “standardized stock assessments.” The article implies that the ability to conduct these assessments effectively within wind farm areas is a key measure of whether sustainable harvesting can be maintained.
• Indicator for Target 14.a: The successful development and implementation of the “draft of monitoring standards.” The existence of a system that produces comparable data across different projects is a direct indicator of increased scientific capacity.
• Indicator for Target 17.17: The formal process of “collecting public comment” and the collaboration between NOAA, BOEM, and the fishing industry. The submission of feedback by groups like the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association is an indicator of an active partnership.

4. Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mvtimes.com