The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has requested input from stakeholders on the proposed Draft Wind Energy Areas off the Oregon Coast. The WFOA has been following these developments and sending updates to members. Last week the WFOA co-signed a request for a 30-day extension of the comment period for proposed offshore wind areas. The deadline for public comment is currently October 16th.  Several other stakeholder groups have also requested an additional 30 days to draft comments. The WFOA has requested input from the fleet on the proposed wind areas and an article was included in the most recent newsletter outlining the BOEM proposal.  

Executive Director Clayton Wraith gave public comment as the Commercial Troll representative at the latest Pacific Fisheries Management Council articulating that meaningful engagement with the albacore fleet is unrealistic during the season.  Additionally, he mentioned that while technology has been improving, fishing is the priority on the water and the unpredictability of the day-to-day is not conducive to Zoom calls. Finally, he emphasized that the commercial albacore fleet fishes up and down the coast and is not as geographically specific as other fisheries. Therefore, members in Washington or California have a vested interest in the proposed lease areas off the southern Oregon coast and should be contributing input on the importance of the proposed sites to albacore fishing.  

The WFOA staff encourages all members with opinions on the proposed sites for offshore wind to contact their director or the staff directly. The WFOA is preparing written comments to meet the October 16th deadline if the extra 30 days are not granted by BOEM.  

Read the request here :https://wfoa-tuna.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9-25-2023_AAFA-WFOA-ORDWEAs_Extension.pdf