A MIXED-METHODS INVESTIGATION INTO THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT ON COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRIES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION, WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON NEW JERSEY

The intersection of renewable energy development and traditional marine industries presents one of the most complex governance challenges of the contemporary energy transition. This mixed-methods dissertation investigates the economic impacts of offshore wind development on commercial fishing industries in the Mid-Atlantic region, with particular focus on New Jersey--a state poised to become a national leader with 11,000 megawatts of planned offshore wind capacity by 2040. The research addresses a critical knowledge gap: the absence of rigorous, empirically grounded assessment of fishing displacement impacts specific to the Mid-Atlantic context. The quantitative strand integrated 16 years (2008-2023) of federal Vessel Monitoring System and Vessel Trip Report data comprising 184,401 commercial fishing trips, employing spatial overlay analysis with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management lease boundaries, IMPLAN input-output economic modeling, and agent-based simulation of fleet behavioral responses. The qualitative strand conducted comparative case study analysis of eight European fishing communities with decades of offshore wind operational experience. Results revealed that 18.7% of commercial fishing effort and 21.3% of landed revenue ($63.5 million annually) originates from designated wind lease areas, with dredge fisheries (surf clam: 31.4%; sea scallop: 28.6%) showing disproportionate exposure. Economic impact projections under total exclusion scenarios indicated potential losses of $104.6 million in regional output and 983 jobs annually, with 38.2% of impacts concentrated in Atlantic City. However, partial access scenarios permitting pot and trap gear within wind farms reduced projected impacts by 40.1%. European comparative analysis demonstrated that communities receiving comprehensive support—early stakeholder engagement, formal compensation, and coexistence agreements—achieved 100% successful adaptation rates compared to 33% without such support. These findings conclude that coexistence between offshore wind and commercial fishing is achievable but contingent upon deliberate policy intervention rather than inevitable market adjustments, providing evidence-based guidance for compensation frameworks, marine spatial planning, and adaptive governance strategies essential for an equitable energy transition. Keywords: offshore wind energy, commercial fishing, economic impact, spatial analysis, fisheries displacement, marine spatial planning, Mid-Atlantic region