An Introduction to the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Offshore Wind Team
by Carina Burroughs
My name is Carina Burroughs and I am a current WCOA fellow and the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Offshore Wind Team Support Lead. The team is focused on strategies to minimize impacts to West Coast marine species, habitats, fishing, and the marine ecosystem throughout planning, siting, and development of wind projects. The team includes staff from the West Coast Regional Office, where I'm working, and the Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers. Addressing our aims includes providing baseline data, consulting with other agencies, and conducting research and monitoring. Offshore wind-focused work is incredibly cross-cutting, which has been a great fit for my interdisciplinary background and interest in working with a range of communities and industries. Prior to becoming a WCOA Fellow, I completed a Masters in Coastal and Marine Resource Management at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Iceland. This multidisciplinary degree and my past experience conducting both ecological and social science research was great preparation for offshore wind work at NOAA Fisheries. Offshore wind energy is also a relatively new ocean sector, and the floating turbines that will be used in the deep waters off the West Coast is a rapidly evolving technology, which means our team must be adaptable and constantly learning in our research and work.
My role is focused on supporting the Offshore Wind team’s wide number of activities, which means my tasks are varied, and every day looks a bit different! Part of my work is supporting logistics — crafting agendas, tracking follow up actions, and planning and facilitating meetings. Within NOAA Fisheries, I work with staff across different divisions and with a huge variety of scientific and policy expertise, which allows me to understand the diversity of research being conducted and the breadth of careers available within the agency. I’ve also learned a lot about coordinating with a range of other agencies, industries, and communities, such as the fishing industry, tribal nations, state agencies, other federal agencies, and offshore wind developers. In my very first week, I attended the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Marine Planning Committee meeting, where I was able to hear in-person from individuals from various fisheries, states, and tribes on marine planning issues including offshore wind. These types of experiences have given me an opportunity to understand firsthand the scientific and regulatory challenges for a federal agency like NOAA Fisheries when there is an emerging technology and new use of marine spaces.
As part of my fellowship, I am applying my background and interest in social science to an independent project under the guidance of scientists from NOAA’s California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (CCIEA) Team. This project analyzes public comments to determine what components (e.g., oceanography, species, fisheries) of the ecosystem stakeholders are most concerned about relative to impacts from offshore wind energy development. The results will contribute to the development of a conceptual model that could be used to prioritize science and management resources to ensure living marine resources, fisheries and offshore wind energy development proceeds in a responsible and sustainable fashion on the West Coast. I am also serving as the West Coast lead for a shared, offshore-wind focused EndNote Library, which provides a resource for research publications for NOAA Fisheries staff across the country. This library is especially important because it helps streamline our work and provides access to up-to-date and best available scientific information for our agency scientists. My role with the EndNote Library also allows me to communicate and collaborate with staff based in other regions, providing additional connection and a broader context for many of the issues I work on.
My fellowship has also allowed me to learn a lot about environmental policy and review, which is an area I was eager to gain experience in. I’ve had the opportunity to gain training and experience with federal laws like the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In addition to my specific role with NOAA Fisheries, I’ve enjoyed learning more about WCOA, participating in WCOA meetings and events, and getting to know the other WCOA fellows and the broader Sea Grant community. I’m looking forward to further learning and growth within my role as I continue to understand the science and policy needs of a new and evolving ocean use.
