Marine Life and Fishing

In the long term, offshore wind farms generally result in higher fish densities and biomass, but can be detrimental to the fishing industry. The foundations of turbines can function as artificial reefs for marine species. Studies of European wind farms show that habitat disturbance caused by construction and installation of wind farms is temporary, and the presence of wind turbines can significantly enhance local abundance of  bottom-  dwelling fish and crabs.

Offshore wind farms can hinder the ability to conduct trawling – a method of fishing that involves pulling a large fishing net behind one or more boats.  Scientists have found   this  to have broad, positive effects upon marine life, although the fishing industry is  opposed to trawling  limitations  and exclusions. Consideration of local industries when siting wind farms  can lessen this challenge  for wind developers.  For example, 80 percent of  the lobster catch in Maine is within three miles of land, so the lobster industry  can coexist  with a wind farm located farther offshore.