Two fishing groups from San Luis Obispo County — the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization and the Port San Luis Commercial Fisherman Association — filed a petition to block a coastal development permit granted to Atlas Wind. They claim that the surveys related to offshore wind development, like sediment sampling and acoustic surveys, could harm fish and marine habitats, which would negatively impact the commercial fishing industry. The fishing groups argue that their concerns were ignored by the California Coastal Commission when the permit was approved, and they accuse the commission of bias towards Atlas Wind. They cited an incident where a commission staff member flashed a thumbs-up to the audience after the permit approval, suggesting partiality. The groups want the court to revoke the permit and impose mitigation measures for commercial fishing before any further approvals. A court case management conference is scheduled for October 24. Atlas Wind has not yet started the surveys and is still planning its development activities.
