Winter Bottom Trawl Survey of Maine Research Array Wind Energy Area to Begin Week of January 11, 2027
The winter bottom trawl survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy (MeRA) Area is scheduled to begin the week of January 11, 2027, and run through February 28, 2027.
If inclement weather limits sampling days during the aforementioned window for the winter survey, sampling may be extended until March 12, 2027.
This timeframe is tentative - survey notices will be posted here on DMR's website.
This survey will be conducted during up to nine days within the above timeframe. The exact dates will be weather dependent. Operations will be conducted during daylight hours. Survey locations will be the same as the previous year’s surveys.
A link to the survey map, which will include survey locations and dates can also be found here.
The F/V Northern Lights (55’ trawler) will transit from Portland to the sampling area. The crew will conduct approximately 37 tows over up to nine days of sampling during each survey.
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 these surveys.
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 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 surveys will evaluate fish and invertebrate community composition near the MeRA Area.
Again, a link to the survey map can also be found here.
These surveys 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.
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