July 29, 2026 — Researchers at the University of Rhode Island (URI) are studying whether offshore wind turbines are changing the movement and feeding behavior of Jonah crabs, work they say could have implications for fisheries management and future offshore wind development.
According to ecoRI, first-year URI Ph.D. student Emmanuel Oyewole is using isotopic analysis to determine whether Jonah crabs found around offshore wind turbines are migrating from traditional fishing grounds or spending their entire lives at turbine sites. The research is being conducted with Kelton McMahon, an associate professor of oceanography at URI.
“It’s really, really important for understanding the impact of these wind farms on biodiversity, on ecosystem structure and function, and on fisheries production,” McMahon told ecoRI.
The study builds on years of research showing that offshore wind turbine foundations can act as artificial reefs, supporting algae, coral and other marine life that create habitat for a range of species.