Modeling the distributions of marine birds at sea to inform planning of energy development on the US Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf

The development of offshore wind energy production in US waters is accelerating. In 2021 the president issued an executive order that outlined a goal of doubling production by 2030 (United States 2021). The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for managing renewable energy resources on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from the limit of state waters out to the boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone. In order to minimize the impacts of offshore wind development on wildlife, BOEM requires information about the spatial distributions of marine species to inform their planning, leasing, and environmental assessments. Contract no. EA-133C-14-NC-1384