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*"This notice is to inform you that the bottom trawl survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy (MeRA) Area [ [link removed] ], previously scheduled to begin the week of January 27, 2025 and run through March 1, 2025 is now scheduled to run from the week of July 7th, 2025 through August 31st, 2025."*

This remains a tentative timeframe - survey schedules will be posted here on DMR's website as they are available [ [link removed] ]. 

The survey will be conducted during seven 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 seven 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 this project, and 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 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 [ [link removed] ].   

A link to the survey map can also be found here. [ [link removed] ]

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 [ [link removed] ]. 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 [ [link removed] ].

 

           

                   

 


* MERASurveyMap2025.png [ [link removed] ]
* FV_northern_lights_picture.png [ [link removed] ]

 

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This service is provided to you as a courtesy by the Maine Department of Marine Resources [ [link removed] ].

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Marine Resources · 21 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0021· 207-624-6550 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]