Integration of Multiple Data Types to Document Spatial Effort in a Recreational Fishery for Highly Migratory Species in Relation to Offshore Wind Development

• DOI: 10.1111/fog.12727
• Publication Date: 2025-02-11T07:11:41Z
• Authors: Jeff Kneebone; Matthew Davis; Ryan Knotek; Connor Capizzano; Edward Kim; Camilla T. McCand...; Peter Chaibongsai; Wessley Merten; Eric S. Orbesen

ABSTRACT The expansion of offshore wind interests in US waters has raised concern over potential adverse impacts to fisheries activity and productivity. Yet evidence‐based platforms for assessing those are lacking many recreational fisheries. We demonstrate how data from a federal fishery survey (Large Pelagics Intercept Survey [LPIS]), cooperative tagging programs, the direct fishermen can be used characterize spatial extent baseline (pre‐construction) effort that targets highly migratory fishes (HMS) territorial Atlantic, Gulf Mexico, Caribbean. To document location effort, LPIS catch tag, release, recapture (CTR) records four programs were independently aggregated onto grid lease blocks. An online was also executed assess relation Draft Call Area (DCA) Maine region. Collectively, CTR described widespread fishing HMS, including within around majority existing planned areas. Responses revealed more DCA than both data, but some respondents may have overrepresented true levels effort. Our results need multiple types comprehensively on HMS inform marine planning regions into which energy development expanded.