Periodically, as needs arise, the NYSERDA F-TWG Technical Support Team has developed reports on topics of interest to the F-TWG, shown below. The intent of these reports is to provide a high-level understanding of important topics related to fisheries and offshore wind, using fact-based and objective information on each topic:
Cooling Water Use at Offshore Converter Stations (Tetra Tech, 2025)
This report provides an overview of cooling water systems at offshore converter stations, with a particular focus on applications in offshore wind energy development in the New York Bight region. It is designed to serve as an informational resource for stakeholders involved in offshore wind development, including developers, regulators, environmental organizations, and other interested parties who have a baseline understanding of marine infrastructure but may not be familiar with cooling water systems specifically. The report focuses on aspects most relevant to offshore wind development, while acknowledging that additional technical details, regulatory requirements, and environmental considerations exist beyond what is presented here.
This study compiles the existing information on deep water offshore wind (OSW) technology, next generation innovation, environmental impacts, and future considerations for the Area of Analysis (AoA) at or exceeding depths of 60 meters in the New York Bight. Technical specifications associated with deep water OSW turbines, moorings, anchoring, export and inter-array cables, substations, and risks for each are discussed along with a review of next generation technology. The overall design decisions start at the bottom with the anchors. Optionality for other components such as mooring lines and turbine platforms are highly dependent on anchor choice. Potential environmental impacts and considerations of deep water OSW infrastructure within the AoA, focus on physical and biological benthic constraints, oceanographic processes, and risks to marine resources and fisheries. The benthic seabed morphology and sediment type(s) determine the types of anchors that are feasible in an area, and therefore determine the OSW design. Future steps to support planning for deep water wind in the New York Bight region are identified to maximize energy output and minimize potential impacts to the environment and ocean users.
Fisheries Compensation Overview (2022)
The intent of this document is to provide an overview and summary of existing fisheries compensation within the offshore wind (OSW) industry and other marine industries. This report is not intended to be a formal framework or recommendation, but rather a platform to initiate discussions of compensation considered between project developers, commercial fishermen, and permitting agencies as a mitigation tool to offset potential impacts to the commercial fishing industry. Since the former iteration of this report, eight states requested the development of a federal-level compensation framework to be developed by BOEM and BOEM has begun the planning process for addressing fisheries compensation guidance (Joint Governors Letter 2021; BOEM 2021).
Offshore Wind Submarine Cable Report (Tetra Tech, 2021)
The number of submarine cables in the New York Bight is expected to increase as New York currently has three offshore wind projects with agreements to sell nearly 2,500 MW of power to the State towards the goal of 9,000 MW of offshore wind (OSW) generation by 2035. It is important that the installation and operation of submarine cables avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential impacts; both to the environment as well as to existing ocean users. Understanding the fundamentals of offshore wind submarine power cable types and construction methods are important in determining the potential impacts cables might have on the commercial fishing industry as well as how commercial fishing practices might impact the cables, once installed. The best and most effective manner to mitigate impacts to fishing interests is engagement with fishermen early in the planning process. Planning tools such as the Cable Burial Risk Assessment (CBRA) determine the recommended depth of lowering (DOL) by taking many factors into consideration, including regional fishing gear activity, type, and penetration depths. Mitigation measures to reduce impacts of fishing to cables may include cable armoring and burial for cable installed on the continental shelf. Reducing the impacts submarine cables may have on stakeholders and vice versa can be achieved by proper and diligent project planning and execution.
In addition to reports developed directly by the F-TWG Technical Support Team, links to additional reports related to fisheries and offshore wind, sponsored by NYSERDA are provided below, as part of the NYSERDA Offshore Wind Resource Library, which is a comprehensive source for all of these materials:
Offshore Wind Planning in the New York Bight: Fish and Fisheries Data Aggregation Study (HDR, 2025)
The Fish and Fisheries Data Aggregation Study was conducted to provide information about the environmental factors related to offshore wind energy development in the Mid-Atlantic Bight in waters greater than 60 meters deep. The objective is to identify areas of high environmental risk for the siting of offshore wind energy development by using up-to-date scientific knowledge and stakeholder engagement. One of five desktop studies, the Fish and Fisheries Data Aggregation Study compiles and analyzes existing data on fish habitat, fish species, and commercial and recreational fisheries in the Area of Analysis (AoA) that may be sensitive to offshore wind development (OSW). The elements that were analyzed include Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed species, fish species counts and biomass, fishing vessel presence and usage of the AoA, and targeted commercial and recreational fisheries within the AoA. The stressors that were considered include noise, vessel traffic, physical habitat alterations, changes to water quality, changes to oceanographic dynamics, and the implications of new structures in the offshore environment to commercial and recreational fisheries. The findings suggest the AoA is within the range of some threatened and endangered species and encompasses many important commercial and recreational fisheries that could be impacted by OSW. The stressors to fish and fisheries vary by location, habitat, and species. Future considerations are provided to help achieve greater clarity for avoiding and minimizing potential conflicts with deepwater OSW.
Offshore Wind Planning in the New York Bight: Environmental Sensitivity Analysis (HDR, 2025)
A weighted sum overlay environmental sensitivity analysis was performed for 21 biota layers among four resource groups: marine mammals and sea turtles, birds and bats, fish and fisheries, and benthic habitat to assess the feasible potential for deepwater offshore wind development at or exceeding depths of 60 meters in the New York Bight. Layers were differentially weighted by collecting subject matter expert opinions, rationales, and input using the analytic hierarchy process, a structured multi-criteria decision analysis method for organizing and analyzing complex decisions. Relative sensitivity maps were created for each biotic layer, as well as aggregated by resource group and partitioned by 10 identified potential stressors and by four phases of offshore wind development. These sensitivity maps can help judge the relative suitability of potential offshore wind development within the area of analysis.