June 17, 2021 — Some opponents of a proposed wind farm off the coast of Long Beach Island cite the continued lack of available data specific to the Mid-Atlantic Bight and its impact to the commercial and recreational fishing industries. On June 3, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and Rutgers University announced a multi-phase modeling study in collaboration with the surfclam industry.
The goal of the study, according to Atlantic Shores officials, is to better understand how Mid-Atlantic wind farm developments anticipated over the next three decades, along with climate change, will affect the distribution and abundance of surfclams.
“The study will also examine the economics of the Surfclam Fishery within the Atlantic Shores Lease Area and the greater Mid-Atlantic Bight,” according to a June 3 statement in which Atlantic Shores and Rutgers University announced the study launch.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is one of two companies that could potentially build the state’s second wind farm, in part off the coast of LBI. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is expected to make an announcement on granting approval for the second wind farm sometime this month.
Atlantic Shores is a 50-50 partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF Renewables North America. It was formed in December 2018 to co-develop nearly 183,353 acres of leased sea area on the Outer Continental Shelf, located within the New Jersey Wind Energy Area.