Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association CVOW
Coastal Virginia Offshore Winds
The VSSA is actively involved in communication with the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance and Dominion Energy to make sure the Recreational Fishing communities concerns are heard with the ongoing development of Offshore Wind off the coast of Virginia.
We have representation on the Advisory Council for ROSA and will periodically share information when it comes available to help inform the public and our members.
The biggest concern heard for the recreational community is access to the structures. Except for during construction, access to the public will be allowed. Of course, tying off to the structure will be forbidden.
Here are some key links to access information and learn more about the project.
Interesting supporting partners links:
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council — Northeast Offshore Wind (mafmc.org)
Renewable Energy | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (boem.gov)
Socioeconomic Impacts of Atlantic Offshore Wind Development | NOAA Fisheries
Tethys | Environmental Effects of Wind and Marine Renewable Energy (pnnl.gov)
Similar Buoy information from another Offshore Wind site in the Northeast that may become available to the public.
| Good day Friend,
As our offshore survey work on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project continues through the winter of 2021, we remain committed to maintaining communications with the fishing community and other mariners in the area via these periodic updates. All mariners are encouraged to contact Dominion Energy’s Fisheries Liaisons with any specific questions about the status of the projects in relation to fisheries. Recent announcements include:
The CVOW Pilot Project (CVOW-P) is now complete! Two wind turbines located in federal waters are providing enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 3,000 Virginia homes and avoid up to 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The CVOW-P turbines, the export cable route and the MET Ocean Buoy are now displayed on the updated NOAA Nautical Charts (Chart #s 12200 and 12221). The CVOW-P turbines continue to provide a platform for Realtime Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) projects as well as US Coast Guard training activities.
Offshore survey activities for the Commercial Project (CVOW-C) are expected to continue through the March 2021 timeframe. The survey vessel(s) Dina Polaris and Geoquip Speer will continue with their seabed sampling at fixed positions within the lease area and along the planned export cable route towards the shore. The survey vessel(s) Minerva Uno, Kommandor Stuart and Go Discovery will be conducting geophysical survey operations using towed equipment to map the seafloor within the lease area and around its perimeter. Activities will be conducted 24/7; please consult the Fifth Coast Guard District Local Notice to Mariners for additional information on vessel activity. Vessel details are as follows:Geoquip Speer
Dina Polaris
Minerva Uno
Kommandor Stuart
Go Discovery
For more information on Dominion Energy’s CVOW activities, click here.
Survey vessels will monitor VHF Channels 16 & 13 if direct bridge-to-bridge communications are required.
Mariners transiting or fishing in the survey area are requested to give a wide berth to survey vessels which may be limited in their ability to maneuver and towing gear up to 1,000’ behind the vessel. Mariners should operate in a manner that will not endanger the vessel or its equipment, a 0.5 NM clearance is requested. Contact UsFishermen planning to deploy fixed gear or work mobile gear in the vicinity of the operations described should contact the Fisheries Liaisons prior to deploying to coordinate activities. Local fishing vessels will be used as Scout Boats to help avoid any fishing gear conflicts. If you suspect your gear has been damaged by survey activity, please contact us. Sea Risk Solutions, LLCRon Larsen (Fisheries Liaison Officer) Wolfgang Rain (Fisheries Liaison Officer) Dominion EnergyKevin Carroll (Project Management) Scott Lawton (Environmental) Additional project information is available on our web page dedicated to the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
