March 20, 2023 — Mitigating the effect of offshore wind development on federal scientific fisheries surveys requires a major increase in funding, potentially more than $120 million a year, according to a new request to Congress from industry advocates.
The Seafood Harvesters of America and Responsible Offshore Development Alliance say that money is needed to help offset the impacts of offshore on federal fisheries surveys – a cornerstone of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries management and conservation mission.
In a March 17 letter to a Congressional appropriations subcomittee, the groups recommend a price tag at $2 million a year for each of 31 fishery surveys managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service that will be affected by offshore wind projects, plus $10 million more for each of six NMFS regional science centers to address issues with wind energy developments.