An East Hampton Town Trustees-commissioned study of fish migration in the vicinity of the landing site of the South Fork Wind farm’s export cable is to begin today and last approximately one week.
Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine Program will conduct a bottom trawl survey from Smith Point Inlet, in Brookhaven Town, to Montauk Point. The survey is intended to provide a consistent sampling of finfish and invertebrates both in the area around the export cable landing site — the ocean beach at the end of Beach Lane in Wainscott — and a control area to the west. Data will document fish populations and inform the environmental review process in order to minimize construction impacts on fisheries, according to Cornell Cooperative Extension.
A trawl takes place for 20 minutes at 3 knots, representing a distance of about one kilometer, John Aldred of the trustees told his colleagues on Monday. There will be 20 trawls conducted in the affected area and 20 in the control area, he said.
A notice from Cornell Cooperative says that those conducting the survey will make every effort to minimize inconvenience to mobile and fixed-gear fishermen. The survey vessel, called Bulldog, “will cruise along the route without towing a net looking for evidence of fixed gear — gill nets or pots — that might be along the tow line before they actually drop the net and do the tow,” Mr. Aldred said.
Fishermen, particularly fixed-gear fishermen, have been asked to contact Alex Mercado at 516-590-5678 or ajm425@cornell.edu to inform Cornell Cooperative Extension of their gear position within the survey area.
