Saving Seafood

Management & Regulation

New England Wind projects slated for construction

July 2, 2024 — Construction of wind projects off the coast of the Vineyard is starting to ramp up.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved construction and operations plans for two major offshore wind projects recently: Ørsted’s Sunrise Wind received permission in late June, with Avangrid’s New England Wind receiving approvals this week.

Eighty-four turbines are planned for Sunrise Wind, with a capacity of producing 924 megawatts. The project could power more than 320,000 homes, according to the federal energy agency. It’s located around 18 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard, and will be providing power to New York.

According to Ørsted, offshore wind construction will “ramp up” later this year, and Sunrise Wind is expected to be fully operational by 2026.

Meanwhile, the federal approval for New England Wind — consisting of two projects called New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2 — is expected to have a total power capacity of 2,600 megawatts of energy, and could power more than 900,000 homes annually, according to the federal energy agency.

Read the full article at MV Times

New England Wind Gets BOEM Approval as Pace Accelerates in US Offshore Wind

July 1, 2024 — The pace of approvals for the U.S. offshore wind sector continues to accelerate after years of review and planning. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced its second approval, this time the construction and operation plan for Avangrid’s New England Wind, in just a matter of weeks. BOEM highlights that it is working to support the development of the industry both through reviews and approvals as well as scheduling more offshore auctions.

A portion of the site was included in an April 2015 auction agreement to then Vineyard Wind. Since then, Avangrid which is part of Iberdrola, has realigned the portfolio in the wind zone off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and gained BOEM approval to assign portions of different leases including from Park City Wind to create the projects now known as New England Wind 1 and 2. The area also incorporates the former Commonwealth Wind, the project for which Avangrid canceled its power purchase agreements in 2023.  The two projects are covered by a joint Construction and Operation plan which received final approval today after a favorable Record of Decision in April.

Read the full article at The Maritime Executive

Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council calls out foreign tuna dumping

July 1, 2024 — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council expressed concern over foreign tuna dumping in its latest meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, warning that foreign competition is harming both producers and consumers.

“If our fishermen can’t compete, fish, sustain a profit, and provide protein for our communities, not only do we lose food security in American Samoa, but our economy dies,” Council Chair Taulapapa William Sword said.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Fishery management council: Lack of consultation shows ‘disrespect’

July 1, 2024 — Members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council are dismayed over the continued lack of federal government consultation with U.S. territories on the Endangered Species Act, including matters involving green sea turtles, giant clams and oceanic whitetip sharks, the council said in a press release.

“The lack of consultation with the governors of the U.S. territories for federal initiatives shows disrespect – the governors are our leaders, and we look to them for guidance,” Guam Council member Judith Guthertz stated in the release.

She expressed frustration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service not responding to October 2023 letters from U.S. Pacific territorial governors, which requested an extension to the comment period for a proposed designation of green sea turtle critical habitat, the council said in the release.

Read the full article at The Guam Daily Post

US fishing industry issues rebuke of trawling bill

June 27, 2024 —  More than 50 U.S. seafood organizations and companies have signed a letter calling on U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) to immediately withdraw the Bottom Trawl Clarity Act – legislation she introduced in May that could block off large sections of the ocean from trawling gear.

“This bill threatens seafood sector jobs in Alaska and across the United States,” At-Sea Processors Association Executive Director Stephanie Madsen said. “More than 1.5 million Americans have jobs that depend on commercial seafood, and they deserve better than the politicization of fisheries science and management.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Sunrise Wind cleared to start construction

June 27, 2024 — Another industrial offshore wind farm off the coast of the Vineyard is preparing to start construction.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved Sunrise Wind’s construction and operations plan on June 21, according to a press release from the agency. This is the final approval the project needed from BOEM.

According to Ørsted, offshore wind construction will “ramp up” later this year and Sunrise Wind is expected to be fully operational by 2026.

Sunrise Wind, an offshore wind project owned by Ørsted, will consist of 84 wind turbines and produce 924 megawatts of power. According to BOEM, that is enough to power over 320,000 homes annually. The project lease area is located around 18 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard and will be providing power to New York. By comparison, Sunrise Wind will be located around 30 miles east of Montauk, New York.

Read the full article at The Martha’s Vineyard Times

Announcement of NPFMC appointments coming this week

June 27, 2024 — North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) appointees must be announced by June 27; shakeups are expected.

Governors of AK and WA have ‘preferred’ nominees

The deadline to name names is June 27 – and if you’re making bets, the odds are in favor of two new Alaskans being seated on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) on August 10.

The NPFMC has jurisdiction over the 900,000-square-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska that includes oversight of dozens of groundfish and crab species. Alaskans hold five voting seats on the Council.

In mid-March, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy submitted to the US Secretary of Commerce the names of John Moller of Juneau, John Jensen of Petersburg and Sam Rabung of Juneau to be considered for the obligatory commercial fishing seat.

Jensen has been a member of the NPFMC since 2018 and Rabung currently is head of the Commercial Fisheries Division of the AK Dept. of Fish and Game.

Industry watchers predict Moller will be “a slam dunk” for the NPFMC seat.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Ten Vineyard Wind turbines operating; Sunrise Wind construction approved

June 27, 2024 — The Vineyard Wind 1 project off southern New England now has 10 turbines in operation and is on track to soon install the 22nd turbine on the first utility-scale offshore wind project in U.S. waters, developer Avangrid Inc. said Tuesday.

“With 10 turbines now in operation, Avangrid is delivering enough clean energy to power more than 60,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts,” said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. “Our Vineyard Wind 1 project continues to demonstrate the significant benefits that offshore wind offers the New England region, delivering well-paying union jobs, local investment, and clean energy that is helping Massachusetts meet its growing demand for electricity.”

With a nameplate rating of 136 megawatts the 10 turbines are the leading edge of the project with 47 foundations and transition pieces and 21 turbines already installed toward the total of 62 generators. When complete the project will be rated at 806 MW.

Read the full article at WorkBoat

Fisheries Survival Fund Urges Northern Edge Scallop Access at Upcoming New England Fishery Management Council Meeting

June 26, 2024 — The following was released by the Fisheries Survival Fund:

Recent Advisory Panel and Joint Scallop and Habitat Committee meetings have underscored the need to align the access season with periods of high scallop meat yields while ensuring the safety of our fishermen.

The upcoming Council meeting in Freeport, Maine on Thursday, June 27, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, will be pivotal for the future of Northern Edge scallop access. Key decisions could be made that will impact scallop yields and crew safety.

Opponents of Northern Edge access may propose motions to terminate or severely restrict the Northern Edge scallop access area management initiative. The Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF) would oppose any such motions and advocates for maintaining a viable Northern Edge access area program.

The Northern Edge is roughly defined as the area encompassed within the Closed Area II Habitat Management Area (HMA) and the adjacent portion of the Northern Flank of Georges Bank. Photo and caption credit: New England Fishery Management Council.

Scallop issues are on the agenda starting at 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning. 

  • Motion to Reject Seasonal Closure Option A
    • FSF strongly opposes the anticipated motion to reject the seasonal closure option A (July 15 through October 15) and replace it with a new closure option from April 1 through October 31. This motion would substitute a 9-month open season, which aligns with periods of high scallop meat yields and favorable weather, for a less optimal season from November 1 through March 31. This proposal directly contradicts the Scallop Advisory Panel’s recommendation for spring/summer access from April 1 to August 31.
       
    • Reasons for FSF’s Opposition:
      • Optimal scallop yields and reduced habitat impacts are achieved when access matches periods of highest meat yield, as proposed in Closure Option A.
      • Ensuring scallop access during spring and summer months enhances safety, which the new proposed closure option fails to do.
      • A sufficient access period is essential for the entire fleet to operate safely.
      • The proposed access plan already adequately protects juvenile cod, egg-bearing lobsters, and avoids disrupting spawning seasons for cod and herring. 
         
  • Motion to Abandon the Northern Edge Access Program
    • FSF opposes any motion to abandon the Northern Edge access program.
       
    • Reasons for FSF’s Opposition:
      • The current alternatives are conservative, having already excluded sensitive bottom areas and considered mitigation.
      • The access area program already provides protection for juvenile cod, cod spawning, herring spawning, and egg-bearing lobsters, alongside existing lobster fishing activities.
      • The scallop fishery must retain access to this crucial resource, particularly given the declining productivity of southern areas.
      • Minimal overlap exists between proposed access areas and spawning grounds for cod and herring.
      • Harvesting in the access area program will not interfere with scallop spawning on Georges Bank.
      • Extensive efforts have been made to develop this measure, with effective solutions from the Scallop and Habitat PDTs.
      • The benefits of access are substantial, as demonstrated by the original Georges Bank access program in 2001.

About the Fisheries Survival Fund
Established in 1998, the Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF) is dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery. FSF represents the majority of full-time Atlantic scallop fishermen from Maine to North Carolina. FSF collaborates with academic institutions and independent scientific experts to support cooperative research and sustain this fully rebuilt fishery. Additionally, FSF works with the federal government to ensure responsible management of the fishery.

For more information, please contact:
John Quinn
jquinnfish@gmail.com
https://atlanticscallops.org

Green sand threatens Biden’s offshore wind ambition

June 25, 2024 — A green mineral scattered along the Atlantic Ocean’s seafloor is the latest hurdle for President Joe Biden’s plan to jump-start the offshore wind industry.

Glauconite is sediment that resembles the green sand in a fish tank. But if pounded by pile drivers, it shatters to form a claylike layer.

Monopiles — hollow steel tubes driven deep into the seafloor to support turbine towers — often cannot be hammered through the thick paste, cutting off the cheapest and most widely preferred foundation for the first U.S. offshore wind farms.

“It’s almost like magic what happens when the monopile is driven through it,” said George Hagerman, an offshore wind expert at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “It all of a sudden becomes very, very, sticky, almost like plaster.”

Identified in several offshore wind lease areas in the north Atlantic, the mineral poses a growing hazard to offshore wind projects that already face high costs and razor thin margins. At least four wind lease areas off the coast of New England and New York — Beacon Wind, Empire Wind, New England Wind and Sunrise Wind — have all have grappled with glauconite.

Read the full article at E&E News