September 10, 2026 — Industry stakeholders may already be aware of the research that the Hamer Environmental team us doing for BOEM (MMA) to understand how offshore renewable energy development and oil and gas platform decommissioning activities may affect commercial and recreational fishing. Limited information exists, and the West Coast needs to be assessed due to the connectivity of fisheries among ports, especially for those sectors that pursue migratory species. Interactions between industries may be synergistic or cause space-use conflicts, and understanding these potential interactions will help inform MMA and other agencies’ offshore energy planning and environmental reviews, local harbor planning and permitting decisions, and enhance inter-industry negotiations, mitigation decisions, and mutual benefits. The Hamer Team has developed a survey top help collect information with members of ports and port-associated fishing communities.
Survey Link: West Coast Fishing Port Infrastructure Survey
The survey will remain open until September 30, 2026, and Hamer would appreciate any assistance in sharing it with potential participants before then.
Input from individuals with first-hand knowledge of fishing activities at West Coast ports is an important part of this study and will help ensure the findings reflect the experiences, infrastructure needs, and challenges facing fishing communities!
