Two San Luis Obispo County fishermen groups are concerned that marine surveys related to offshore wind development will disrupt their local fishing industry. They’ve filed a lawsuit against several entities including the California Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission, as well as offshore wind companies and an environmental consulting firm. These surveys aim to gather information about the marine environment to aid in the development of offshore wind turbines. The fishermen worry that the surveys will harm marine life and interfere with fishing activities. They argue that the surveys should be halted until a statewide plan is developed to protect fisheries from offshore wind development. The plan, mandated by Senate Bill 286, is expected to establish best practices for conducting surveys, fishing agreements, and compensation frameworks for affected parties. Despite ongoing efforts to mitigate potential impacts on fishermen, the lawsuit seeks to block permits for site surveys until the plan is adopted. The timeline for survey activities varies among the wind companies, with Atlas Wind planning to start between April and December and Even Keel Wind potentially starting later this year or early next year. The wind companies and involved agencies have indicated their commitment to obtaining necessary approvals and conducting surveys responsibly, but declined to comment on the lawsuit.
