2025 News 2025: SMAST partners with New Bedford Port Authority to study the effects of wind energy areas on commercial fishing operations

The partnership is supported by a $419K grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

The UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) is partnering with the New Bedford Port Authority on a project titled "Tracking and Modeling the Behavior and Position of Fishing Vessels and Their Towed Gears in Wind Energy Areas." The project is funded by a $419,462 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). 

The study will examine how commercial fishing vessels and gear operate within and around offshore wind energy areas to better understand potential impacts and identify ways to support safe, sustainable coexistence between the fishing and wind industries. 

SMAST was selected as a key partner for its longstanding reputation in collaborative fisheries research and its strong connections to the commercial fishing community as well as its leadership in studying the impacts of wind farms on fisheries. Together, SMAST and the NBPA will combine practical experience and scientific analysis to help shape offshore wind development that supports both economic growth and ocean sustainability. 

"This project is an important opportunity to combine the practical knowledge of the fishing industry with the scientific modeling expertise at SMAST," said Dr. Steve Cadrin, professor of fisheries oceanography at SMAST. "By working closely with the New Bedford Port Authority and local fishers, we’re able to observe and model how commercial vessels operate within wind energy areas in real-world conditions. Our goal is to generate objective data that helps inform offshore wind development while ensuring that fishing communities can continue to thrive alongside this emerging industry." 

"Our goal is to generate objective data that helps inform offshore wind development while ensuring that fishing communities can continue to thrive alongside this emerging industry."