Fishing associations are expressing concern over the Biden administration’s plans to lease 2 million acres of the Gulf of Maine for wind farm construction. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced the finalization of a wind energy area (WEA) that would allow for the construction of enough wind turbines to produce 32 gigawatts (GW) of energy. While the administration touts this as a step towards its renewable energy goals, fishing associations argue that it will be detrimental to their businesses and marine life.
The coalition of 17 fishing associations, including the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) and the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), claim that the development process for offshore wind activity is poorly informed on economic, scientific, environmental, and cultural issues. They point out that there are serious questions about the connection between offshore wind activity and spikes in whale mortality, particularly in areas frequented by the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Furthermore, the fishing associations argue that leasing the area for wind farming contradicts the federal government’s policy of protecting endangered species. They criticize the preferential treatment given to foreign energy developers over marine mammal protection and highlight the burdensome restrictions placed on the fishing industry to protect whales.
The fishing associations also express concerns about the displacement of fleets in prime fishing territory and the lack of research and best practices in ocean modeling. They believe that more time should be dedicated to studying the environmental impacts of offshore wind development before moving forward with such a large-scale project.
Dustin Delano, the chief operating officer at NEFSA, emphasizes the need for more data from small-scale test projects before proceeding with commercial-scale development. He criticizes the government’s irresponsibility in potentially destroying the Gulf of Maine without fully understanding the environmental impacts.
Annie Hawkins of RODA questions the need for such a massive wind energy area, as the predicted energy generation far exceeds the demand from neighboring states and industry groups. She raises concerns about the lack of scrutiny and environmental impact assessment for future wind projects within the designated area.
In response to the criticism, the BOEM states that the final WEA establishes boundaries for potential site characterization and assessment activities. They clarify that they do not intend to lease the entire area and will consider proposed lease areas for public comment in a Proposed Sale Notice. The agency assures that they have engaged with lobster fishermen and have taken measures to avoid restricted areas and historical fishing grounds.
Overall, the fishing associations argue that the rushed and poorly informed development process for offshore wind activity in the Gulf of Maine poses significant risks to their industry and marine life. They call for more research, transparency, and consideration of the long-term environmental impacts before proceeding with such a large-scale project.
