(Photo: Offshore wind power. Credit: Ørsted)Ørsted US Offshore Wind and the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), a membership-based coalition of fishing industry associations and fishing companies, formed a new partnership. Together they aim to improve communications between offshore wind energy developers and the commercial fishing industry.
The non-binding agreement is intended to create an opportunity for commercial fishermen to provide direct input to the wind energy industry, the partners say.
RODA was formed in June 2018 by commercial fishermen from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States over concerns about offshore wind farms, the East Hampton Star reported. One of RODA’s main goals is ensuring that the fishing industry’s input at-large is received, considered, and accommodated in leasing, design, construction, and operations of new offshore developments.
“RODA believes that we need to develop solutions for offshore wind energy and commercial fishing to coexist, and today’s announcement will support future sustainability for both industries,” executive director Annie Hawkins said.
A core component of the new partnership will be creating a joint industry task force that explores improved approaches to project siting, design, and operations. Having a structured process for the two industries to collaborate should also help, according to the partners.
“Ørsted has made it clear that they want to be partners with the fishing industry, and we are optimistic that our work with them will set a standard ensuring that fishermen have direct input into wind farm designs and ensuring that their concerns are fully embraced by developers,” said Peter Hughes, who is RODA chairman and director of sustainability at Atlantic Capes Fisheries.
Jointly headquartered in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, Ørsted US Offshore Wind has a pipeline of development capacity that totals more than 8 GW in seven states. “Through this partnership, we will be able to share our concerns in a productive way and develop practical solutions as we all seek to coexist and thrive for a better tomorrow,” said Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted US Offshore Wind and president of Ørsted North America.
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