May 10 Pro-Fishing Rally – Join us!

May 03, 2022

Join us on May 10 to celebrate the West Coast fishing industry and all it contributes to resilient coastal communities. As the federal government and western states fast-track offshore wind energy development, we must ensure that current ocean users and stakeholders have a meaningful seat at the table. The current call areas off Oregon contain some of the most productive fishing grounds for state and federal fisheries, contributing millions of dollars to local economies. These fisheries support tens of thousands of Oregon jobs in rural communities and they are critical to food security.

The May 10 rally starts with presenters who will speak to the importance of commercial fisheries in Oregon. Join us afterward for a seafood BBQ and celebration to recognize the intrinsic link between the seafood industry and the fabric of our coastal communities.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced today that it is cancelling the Offshore Wind lease auction scheduled for October 15, 2024. Read BOEM’s explanation of the cancellation here.

Earlier in the day, Oregon Governor Tina Kotel had also indicated to BOEM that the process they were undertaking didn’t adhere to “the Oregon Way” and asked them to halt the auction. Read the Governor’s letter here.

Representatives of several organizations related to commercial fishing, seafood processing, and coastal communities said they wer relieved to get the news. You can read their statement here.

Midwater Trawlers Cooperative sends a hearty thanks to the Oregon Coastal Caucus, Governor Tina Kotek, OR Natural Resources and Climate Advisor Karin Power, Tribal governments, and all who took time to write letters, testify, and otherwise organize against this rush toward offshore wind.