The Northeast Regional Ocean Council, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean, and Coastal States Stewardship Foundation today announced a new collaboration that they will administer and direct that will focus on research and monitoring for wildlife and offshore wind energy in areas along the U.S. East Coast where offshore wind energy is being developed or proposed.
The Regional Wildlife Science Entity is intended to serve as a forum for information-sharing, standardizing data collection and monitoring protocols, defining key scientific research needs, and amplifying existing and ongoing research needs.
RWSE’s activities will be guided by a 12-member Steering Committee and coordinated with regional entities including the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance, Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems, with scientific and technical experts in the region to be invited to provide input on topics like research priorities, monitoring methods, interpretation of results, and data management.
Steering Committee members include representatives from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NOAA, the states of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New York, Equinor, Shell, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, and National Wildlife Federation.
