If you’re a charter/for-hire captain impacted by construction of the Empire Wind 1 industrial offshore wind site, you may be eligible for compensation.
The Empire Wind 1 Fisheries Compensation Program has been established to provide compensation to commercial and charter/for hire fishermen, along with shoreside businesses, that have been economically impacted by Empire Wind 1’s construction and operation activities. The compensation program is designed to minimize the administrative and documentation burden on fishers and to streamline the compensation process for impacted parties.
Who is Eligible?
- Commercial Fisherman and Charter for hire:
- Having fished in the following areas for three years during 2020 through 2024: X34, Y34, Y35, Z35, AA35, AB35, AA36, AB36, AC36 (State), 612 (Federal).
- Currently holding a commercial permit.
- Shoreside Services located within 10 miles of New Bedford, Cape May or Point Pleasant, or having more than 20% of business associated with the project area (or having the majority of business revenues – 50% of total revenue or more – documented in an up or downstream fishing support service like bait, ice, vessel repair, seafood dealers, etc.)
To qualify for compensation from Empire Wind 1 construction, charter/for-hire operators must have federally and/or state approved trip level reporting information that establishes fishing activity within Empire Wind. Examples of this are: landing reports (VTR, dealer reports, AIS data), VMS trip reports, federal dealer reports, dock sales receipts, Fishery observer or At Sea Monitor data, NOAA Cooperative Research Study Fleet data, Time-stamped chart plotter data/images, or SAFIS data. Qualified candidates must also be able to prove revenue data from 2020 to 2024.
On the Shoreside Business side, a valid seafood dealer and/or processor permit where applicable is required, along with documentation demonstrating portion of revenue generated from upstream and downstream (with revenue data from 2020 to 2024).
To learn more go to ew1fisheriescompensation.com.
