Socioeconomic characterization of west coast fisheries in relation to offshore wind energy development

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is charged with planning, siting, and authorizing offshore wind energy (OWE) development on the outer continental shelf (OCS). The BOEM Pacific Region (BOEM Pacific) carries out this process offshore of the continental U.S. West Coast, i.e., off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. Along the West Coast, ocean areas that have been selected for and/or are under consideration for OWE development have or are likely to overlap with areas long used by commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries. Therefore, West Coast fisheries and fishing communities may be impacted by OWE development activities, including site characterization surveys, construction, operation, and decommissioning of OWE facilities. This report aims to provide a general overview of West Coast fisheries and fisheries information relevant to consider in assessing such impacts drawn from experiences and methods used in federal fisheries management.