Offshore Wind Energy Guidance for Mitigating Impacts to Fisheries Meetings

BOEM (Nov 22,2021) … The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is developing guidance to mitigate potential impacts from offshore wind projects on commercial and recreational fisheries and fishing. The first step in this process is to gain knowledge from the people and organizations that know and use these areas. BOEM will host a series of workshops during which BOEM will: 

1. Present the purpose and intent of the 2014 document Development of Mitigation Measures to Address Potential Use Conflicts between Commercial Wind Energy Lessees/Grantees and Commercial Fishermen on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.  
2. Request input from the fishing community and developers that would inform the draft guidance on fisheries mitigation. Topics to consider include project siting, design, navigation, and access; safety; environmental monitoring; and financial compensation.   
3. Provide information on how to submit comments. 

You will soon receive an invitation and registration information for one of seven sector-specific or regional virtual workshops, as well as additional information. In the meantime, please reserve the time on your calendar. 

• East Coast Workshop on Clams and Scallops (Bottom Gear)
  December 1, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST)

• East Coast Workshop on Mobile Gear/Mixed Trawl/Pelagic
  December 2, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST) 
  
   
• East Coast Workshop on Fixed Gear
  December 6, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST) 
  
   
• Recreational Fishing Workshop
  December 7, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST)
  
   
• West Coast Workshop
  December 13, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST) 
  
   
• Developers Workshop
  December 14, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST) 
  
   
• Gulf of Mexico Workshop 

December 15, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST):  

These workshops are intended primarily for commercial and recreational fishermen on the West Coast, the Gulf, and the Atlantic Coast, but they are also open to the public.   

If you cannot make it to one of the workshops, you can also provide comments online for BOEM’s consideration. Information on how to do so will be posted to BOEM’s website in the near future. We are looking forward to accepting comments from November 23 – January 7. 

Thank you in advance for your participation. We look forward to hearing from you and having open, productive conversations.

Brian R. Hooker
Lead Biologist
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Office of Renewable Energy Programs