REMINDER: Bottom Trawl Survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy Area Underway, Winter Survey to Begin in January

This notice is to remind you that the fall bottom trawl survey of the Maine Research Array Wind Energy (MeRA) Area, is scheduled to run through November 30, 2025.

This notice is also to inform you that the winter bottom trawl survey is scheduled to begin the week of January 12, 2026 and run through February 28, 2026.

These timeframes are tentative - survey notices will be posted here on DMR's website.

Both surveys will be conducted during up to eight days within the above timeframes. The exact dates will be weather dependent. Operations will be conducted during daylight hours. Survey locations will be the same as the summer survey, which concluded September 2, 2025.

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 for both surveys. The crew will conduct approximately 37 tows over seven 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 surveys are 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 point of contact for this project, and for lost gear, is Casey Yanos, (207) 350-7165, [email protected]. If gear is lost, please contact Casey or your local Marine Patrol Officer.

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. Note: this link has changed since the previous notice, so please use this one to access information on DMR's role in offshore wind research.