WORCESTER COUNTY, Md. -- Compensation talks among the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, US Wind, Worcester County and commercial fishermen have reached a stalemate.
As US Wind continues its efforts to buy two properties in the West Ocean City harbor, DNR is working on a deal for commercial fishermen who would be impacted.
Those talks have been ongoing for nearly a year, and on Friday, March 28, DNR met with Worcester County officials and commercial fishermen, hoping to iron out the details before coming to a final agreement.
Weston Young, Worcester County's Chief Administrative Officer, told WBOC that it is not close to happening just yet.
"DNR seems focused on putting a dollar figure on annihilating the commercial fishing industry," said Young. "If you ask DNR or US Wind, do they have a plan B, or do they have a proposed property to put a new fish house, they change the subject."
Commercial fisherman Sonny Gwin was at Friday's meeting. He said money and a new fish house are not the solution here.
"I can't support it, we've got a foreign entity coming in here buying up this land, putting something out there that's not economical, that costs too much, that's undependable andit's just to chase us out of here," said Gwin.
Both Young and Gwin said that if US Wind chooses a new location for its facility, all of these talks over a potential compensation package wouldn't be necessary.
The offshore wind company, however, is standing firm to its plans.
On Monday, Nancy Sopko, Vice President of External Affairs at US Wind, provided WBOC with a statement.
"We are planning on a substantial investment in the West Ocean City harbor to directly benefit the commercial fishing industry, as well as funds for commercial and charter fishermen. While conversations are ongoing, we are hopeful that everyone will agree to work together. US Wind is prepared to invest in the harbor and provide some of the improvements that have been needed for a long time."
WBOC also reached out to DNR, which provided us with the following statement.
"DNR remains in discussion with the parties and has no further comment at this time. The department will schedule and announce a final, virtual public meeting for the commercial fishing community in the coming weeks."
Timeline:
In a letter to the Worcester County Commissioners in January, DNR outlined the compensation package process.
- On July 8, 2024, DNR and US Wind signed a Letter of Intent, securing US Wind's voluntary commitment to developing a fisheries compensatory mitigation package.
- That package would exceed what the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is requiring.
- According to DNR, final terms will be recorded in a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)by May 13th, 2025.
If an agreement is not struck by mid-May, DNR said the compensation package would default to the requirements set forth by BOEM, which DNR said would under-represent the impacts on fishing and fishing operations.