Abstract
Offshore wind farms introduce complex habitat into historically sandy areas, potentially attracting structure-seeking species. This habitat may provide favorable conditions for food and shelter to support complete life cycles, potentially increasing local abundance or establishing new populations. This project evaluated the suitability of the Vineyard Wind 1 development area for each life-history stage of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) using data from a suite of preconstruction fisheries monitoring surveys and available life history literature. Spatial and temporal trends in distribution, derived from catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) estimates for larval, juvenile, and adult black sea bass, revealed an absence of larvae and only a transient presence of juveniles and adults. Analyses of diet, sex, and maturity were consistent with existing literature, including feeding patterns and lack of spawning in the study area. These findings suggest that while wind farm structures may create favorable habitat for juvenile and adult black sea bass, the degree to which these areas support the completion of the species’ full life cycle remains uncertain. Results further suggest that the introduction of complex habitat will provide suitable spawning habitat and increased available food sources; these strong attractants may result in the increased occurrence of black sea bass to turbines. If turbines are used as spawning habitat this may alter larval dispersal. Larval distribution may also be affected by changing hydrodynamic conditions in the windfarm area. This research constitutes the baseline information required to determine if windfarms will act as a population sink (attracting but not producing new black sea bass populations) or source (completing the life cycle in a new area resulting in population (expansion).