An unsolicited proposal from Hecate Energy Gulf Wind for two commercial leases for wind energy development off the coast of Texas and/or Louisiana has raised significant new concerns for the U.S. shrimp industry.
The Hecate proposal, which may potentially support hydrogen production, has the potential to close fishing grounds, interrupt maritime radar, and harm sensitive species and habitats for which shrimpers are held accountable under federal statutes. On Tuesday, SSA filed comments and recommendations with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). Yesterday, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council discussed SSA’s concerns about the Hecate proposal with BOEM representatives yesterday in Biloxi.
For the past three years, SSA has collaborated constructively to deconflict offshore wind energy development with the U.S. shrimp industry with great success.
Read about SSA’s previous work on offshore wind energy development