Who We Are
Protect US Fishermen is an informal coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals committed to raising awareness of threats to oceans, marine ecosystems, and commercial and recreational fishing. It was developed when a group of concerned seafood harvesters, processors, environmentalists, recreational fishermen, scientists, marine suppliers, communities, and individuals united with a shared goal to support responsible offshore floating wind (OSW) development off the Pacific Coast.
The coalition stands willing to share our knowledge about ocean ecosystems and current ocean uses to create innovative, effective solutions for responsible offshore energy development that avoid significant impacts. There are opportunities for mutual wins. However, it must be recognized that OSW development is an ocean use that will conflict directly with long-standing, multi-generation fisheries and the sustainable, primary food production they provide. OSW also has the potential for significant impacts on marine habitats, biodiversity, and physical oceanography. Long-standing research surveys that provide the foundation of sustainable fisheries management will also be displaced by OSW development, leading to increased uncertainty in fisheries science and management processes. Under the precautionary principle of fisheries management, this uncertainty translates into reduced harvests.
Because of our experience in how federal fisheries are managed (that is, via a stakeholder-driven, regionally-based, bottom-up approach mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act), we believe the current BOEM process is severely flawed because current ocean uses are not a primary consideration nor are critically important environmental and economic analyses performed early in the process. We are lending our voices and our resources to bring about a heightened awareness of this flawed process and the solutions that are possible.
Our coalition members include:
- Arctic Storm Management Group
- California Wetfish Producers Association
- Chelsea Rose Seafood
- Coalition of Coastal Fisheries
- Columbia River Crab Fishermen’s Association
- Englund Marine Supply
- Ex-1 Corporation
- F/V Jenette Marrie
- F/V Miss Emily
- F/V Prolifik
- F/V Timmy Boy
- Fishermen’s Marketing Association
- Fishing Vessel Owners Association
- Ilwaco Charter Boat Association
- Midwater Trawlers Cooperative
- Newport Fishermen’s Wives
- Oregon Albacore Commission
- Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
- Oregon Salmon Commission
- Oregon Trawl Commission
- Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative
- Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association
- Reliance Fisheries, Inc
- Retherford Fisheries, Inc
- United Catcher Boats
- Shrimp Producers Marketing Association
- Washington Dungeness Crab Fishermen’s Association WDCFA
- West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group
- West Coast Seafood Processors Association
- Westport Charter Boat Association
