North Atlantic Right Whale Occurrence in Offshore WEAs near MA and RI

Offshore wind energy development in the USA requires comprehensive assessments of biological resources within lease areas. Two federally designated wind energy areas (WEAs) are located offshore of the eastern USA near Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This report discusses the spatial and temporal habitat use patterns of Endangered North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis, using sightings and photo identification data collected by the Northeast Large Pelagic Survey Collaborative, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Center for Coastal Studies, and others from January 2010 to June 2015 in the proposed WEAs, additional areas of interest, and surrounding waters. Behavior and demography data were analyzed to determine habitat use patterns and to characterize the subset of E. glacialis using the WEAs, in order to inform management and conservation efforts.