Fisheries Mitigation Project
11-State Goal
Support the development of a common and robust framework, methodology, criteria, and process for compensatory mitigation for fishermen that are consistent, equitable, and transparent. This approach will increase efficiency and coordination and reduce uncertainty for all sectors across offshore wind projects, states, and regions. This approach will also encourage offshore wind developers to design projects in such a way first to avoid potential impacts to fisheries, next attempt to minimize impacts, and then use mitigation as the final step in the process, with compensation for losses being utilized if other mitigation measures are exhausted.
Timeline of the Initiative
June 2021
Nine States sent a letter to the Biden Administration encouraging the federal government to provide leadership on resource impact assessments and mitigation frameworks for offshore wind development. Read the letter by clicking here.
June 2021
Nine State working group is formed and meets monthly with BOEM and NOAA to provide input on potential fisheries mitigation guidance.
November 2021
The Nine States sent a letter to BOEM to encourage the development of a standardized fisheries compensatory mitigation framework. Read the letter by clicking here.
June 2022
BOEM released Draft Fisheries Mitigation Guidance. Read the document by clicking here.
July 2022
Nine State discussed mutual interest in and committed to work together on establishing a fund administrator at in-person workshop.
September 2022
Nine States form and hold first meetings for the Governance Work Group and the Technical Working Group.
December 2022
Nine States release Request for Information (RFI) for public comment. Read the RFI by clicking here.
April 2023
April 2023 Nine States Release Final Scoping Document. Final Scoping Document.
May 2023
Delaware and North Carolina join the effort, bringing the total number of states to eleven.
Feb 2024
NYSERDA, through a Request For Proposals, seeks a qualified entity to serve as the Regional Fund Administrator.