Fishermen Sue Over Offshore Wind Gear Losses
Commercial fishing operators in the New York Bight face a precedent-setting question about compensation for construction-phase disruption.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Utilities
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Four New York commercial fishermen filed suit October 30 in federal court in Brooklyn against Empire Wind and Equinor Wind US, alleging offshore wind construction damaged their lobster traps and reduced their catches. The suit seeks unspecified damages above $75,000, including punitive damages, for operators working the New York Bight.
Why it matters
The case puts construction-phase impacts on commercial fishing directly into court, a risk for any business whose livelihood depends on New York's coastal waters. Fishing operators, marine contractors and coastal suppliers face a precedent-setting question about who pays when offshore energy work interrupts established fishing grounds.
The fishermen claim $3.466 million in economic losses, while Empire Wind offered $10,438 per vessel over seven years, and their reported catches dropped from 500 to 600 pounds per trip before construction to under 75 pounds since. Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind together cost $13 billion to build, and the number of affected vessels beyond the four plaintiffs has not been reported.
The players
Empire Wind
Offshore wind developer building a 54-turbine array about 14 miles from Jones Beach on Long Island's South Shore.
Equinor Wind US
U.S. arm of Norwegian energy company Equinor, which develops and operates offshore wind projects in American waters.
Sunrise Wind
Offshore wind project off Rhode Island that, with Empire Wind, cost $13 billion to build.
The details
The complaint alleges Empire Wind removed wrecks and artificial reefs from the seabed and raked it to clear rock formations, then paved parts of the bottom with gravel. The suit also contends that the wind farm's operations create noise and vibration that stress American lobsters. For fishing operators, those alleged changes to seabed habitat can translate directly into fewer traps hauled and more gear lost, which is the economic harm the plaintiffs are asking the court to quantify.
Timeline
Construction on Empire Wind began in 2025.
The lawsuit was filed October 30 in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.
Tower, turbine and blade installation is expected to begin early next year.
Market Landscape
The lawsuit follows a broader pattern of commercial fishing operators challenging offshore wind development along the Atlantic coast, with Sunrise Wind off Rhode Island running on a parallel timeline. Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind together represent $13 billion in construction, making the outcome relevant to energy developers and the fishing businesses sharing these waters.
Commercial fishing operators in the New York Bight should document catch volumes and gear losses now, since those records will matter if similar claims are pursued. Marine service firms and seafood buyers should watch whether construction-phase disruption becomes a recurring cost for vessels working near active offshore sites.
The takeaway
Any business whose revenue depends on fishing grounds near active offshore construction should treat seabed and catch records as evidence worth keeping current. Operators should consult qualified counsel before filing or responding to any claim, since outcomes in cases like this will shape compensation for future disruption.
What happens next
Tower, turbine and blade installation at Empire Wind is expected to begin early next year, and the court schedule for the Brooklyn suit will determine when the damages claims move forward.
Further reading
For the wider energy-infrastructure picture, see Utilities coverage of how grid and generation projects reshape regional markets.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
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Should offshore wind projects be required to fully compensate affected local fishermen?
