A study led by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, together with the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), has found that proposed offshore wind areas in the Gulf of Mexico are unlikely to disrupt shrimping activities.
Researchers used GPS data from shrimp vessels to track their movements around oil rigs, distinguishing between fishing and transit behaviour, and applied this information to assess how planned wind farm sites and associated transmission lines could interact with shrimping grounds.
The analysis showed that wind energy areas generally avoid regions most heavily used by the shrimp industry, suggesting minimal impact on commercial operations. The study also observed that shrimpers tend to avoid oil rigs, but in areas with a high density of rigs, they favour trawling about three miles from the nearest rig, balancing safety considerations with available fishing space.
The study, titled Spatial Dynamics of the Gulf Shrimp Fishery: Mechanistic Drivers and Potential Implications for Offshore Energy Development, was published on 6 November in Marine and Coastal Fisheries. The findings provide guidance for planning offshore wind development in a way that minimises conflicts with established commercial fisheries.
