Bottom Trawl Survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy Area Re-Scheduled for January 13, 2025 – March 1, 2025
This notice is to inform you that the bottom trawl survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy (MeRA) Area, previously scheduled to begin on October 15, 2024, has been re-scheduled to take place between January 13, 2025 and March 1, 2025.
This is a potential sampling window; the survey will be conducted during 7-10 days within this timeframe. The exact dates will be weather dependent.
Operations will be conducted during daylight hours.
The F/V Northern Lights (55’ trawler) will transit from Portland to the sampling area. The crew will conduct approximately 37 tows over 7-10 days of sampling.
Tows will be 20 minutes and conducted at a speed of 2.5 knots.
It is not anticipated at this time that DMR will have to ask for gear to be moved for this survey.
If the survey is unable to operate due to density of gear within the survey sites, DMR will send out additional notices providing details as to when gear would need to be moved.
- The point of contact for lost gear is Casey Yanos, (207) 350-7165, [email protected]. If gear is lost, please contact Casey or your local Marine Patrol Officer.
- The point of contact for this project is Ethan Taulbee, (207) 350-7582, [email protected]
The F/V Northern Lights will be monitoring VHF channel 16. Please see the attached map of the survey area and photo of the F/V Northern Lights.
As a reminder, the bottom trawl survey will evaluate fish and invertebrate community composition near the 
MeRA Area.
This survey is one of several that are intended to provide baseline data that will be compared to data collected throughout the construction and operation phases of the Research Array. These surveys are being conducted in response to recommendations from Maine’s Offshore Wind Roadmap’s Fisheries Working Group. The surveys will help answer critical questions about the impacts of offshore wind development on fishing and the environment prior to commercial development.
Information on DMR’s role in offshore wind research can be found here.
Leave a Reply