This notice is to inform you that the bottom trawl survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy (MeRA) Area, previously scheduled to begin January 13, 2025 is now tentatively scheduled to begin the week of January 27, 2025 and run through March 1, 2025.
This remains a tentative timeframe - survey schedules will be posted here on DMR's website as they are available.
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.
- The point of contact for this project is Casey Yanos, (207) 350-7165, casey.yanos@maine.gov.
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.