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Symposium to address offshore wind farm issues

September 23, 2009
Contact:  Meredith Haas
(401) 874-6019/ mhaas@gso.uri.edu

NARRAGANSETT– Rhode Island is in the forefront nationally of efforts to prepare for offshore wind farms. That makes the state a logical home for an international symposium on issues surrounding marine wind farm development.

Participants will convene at the Newport Harbor Hotel in Newport, R.I., from November 2 to 4, 2009, for the Eighth Annual Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium, “The Ecology of Marine Wind Farms: Perspectives on Impact Mitigation, Siting, and Future Uses.”

“This symposium will cover the future of ocean areas being considered for wind farms and all of the opportunities for green jobs and enhanced ocean economies that will impact the future of the world´s coasts and marine ecosystems for our children and grandchildren,” said Barry A. Costa-Pierce, director of Rhode Island Sea Grant, which hosts the annual science symposium.

International experts in wind energy, biotechnologies, seafoods, fisheries, aquaculture, and marine policy from several businesses, universities, and institutions including Deepwater Wind, the Ocean Conservancy, the Marine Policy Center at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, NOAA Fisheries Service, the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Fishermen’s Energy, The Ocean Foundation, and the Minerals Management Service will discuss innovative methods for the integration of future uses into marine wind farm areas.

Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse have confirmed their attendance, along with other top dignitaries from URI and the state.

To register for the symposium, or for more information, please visit seagrant.gso.uri.edu/baird/2009/ or call Tracy Kennedy of Rhode Island Sea Grant at (401) 874-6800. Early bird registration ends October 2.

Sponsors ofthe 8th Annual Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium are R.I. Ocean Special Area Management Plan; NOAA Aquaculture Program, NOAA Fisheries Service; Deepwater Wind; Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany; Institute for Marine Resources, Germany; Canadian Consulate in Boston; Maine Sea Grant College Program; and MIT Sea Grant College Program.