Probability analysis of derelict fishing gear interactions with energy infrastructure offshore california PC-25-02

The University of California Santa Cruz received $142,908 in federal funding from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) under the Environmental Studies (ES) program (CFDA 15.423) for the project "Probability Analysis of Derelict Fishing Gear Interactions with Energy Infrastructure Offshore California" (PC-25-02). The award, initiated on September 22, 2025, with completion targeted for September 21, 2028, supports research examining the interaction risks between derelict fishing gear and offshore energy infrastructure off the California coast. This work directly supports BOEM's environmental assessments and regulatory decision-making under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, particularly as offshore wind and other energy development activities expand in federal waters.

The research contributes to BOEM's broader environmental science portfolio, which funds field research, monitoring, and modeling projects assessing potential impacts from offshore energy development on marine ecosystems. The project's focus on derelict fishing gear represents a priority topic within recent BOEM solicitations addressing potential conflicts between commercial fisheries and floating offshore wind infrastructure. Findings from this analysis will inform BOEM's understanding of operational risks and mitigation strategies for offshore energy facilities in California waters, supporting informed regulatory and environmental management decisions.