NEFSA Reacts to BOEM Rescinding Offshore Renewable Energy Leasing Schedule
Statement from Dustin Delano, NEFSA COO: “The BOEM’s removal of the offshore renewable energy leasing schedule puts American fishermen and ecosystems first by safeguarding coastal environments from unreliable energy source development. By removing the arbitrary and mandatory five-year leasing timeline, the Department of the Interior can now take the time needed to evaluate ocean conditions […]
Statement of NEFSA COO Dustin Delano on BOEM Removal of Designated Offshore Wind Energy Areas
“Today marks a great step forward for America’s fishermen, coastal communities, and marine ecosystems. For years, fishermen have fought against over regulation and seen the decline of many communities. All of this has happened while foreign green energy companies were given rushed lease area approvals and free handouts. We’re thankful President Trump and his administration have […]
NEFSA Reacts to GE Vernova’s $10.5M Wind Turbine Settlement
“NEFSA is pleased that GE Vernova is making the people of Nantucket whole. But it is disappointing that offshore wind developers continue to shirk their duty of transparency and accountability. Vineyard Wind did not sign the settlement announced today. This is no surprise. Vineyard Wind has been in CYA mode ever since their turbine disintegrated. […]
Statement of NEFSA CEO Jerry Leeman on passage of ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
“For years the federal government has cut sweetheart deals with foreign offshore wind developers industrializing America’s oceans. Sadly, the final version of OBBB maintains federal favoritism for megacorporations that will destroy American jobs, maritime heritage, and our wild seafood resource. Commercial fishermen are not powerful insiders. But offshore wind developers and their big bank allies […]
NEFSA Statement on Emergency Motion Against Empire Wind
Statement of NEFSA CEO Jerry Leeman: “Empire Wind has sought to industrialize our oceans and put thousands of American fishermen and coastal communities out of business. This foreign-owned company violates federal law, destroys critical fishing grounds, and wreaks havoc on marine life and the ecosystem.” “NEFSA fully supports this legal action to stop Empire Wind […]
NEFSA to Congress: Stop Giving Foreign Fleets A Leg Up Over American Fishermen
Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2025) — American fishermen are going to Congress to warn lawmakers that American fishermen are losing out to Canadian competitors thanks to unfair rules, amid a spike in tensions between the two countries. Dustin Delano, chief operating officer of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) and a fourth-generation lobsterman, is scheduled to testify […]
NEFSA Statement on Empire Wind
Statement of Dustin Delano, chief operating officer of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA): “NEFSA is deeply concerned about the administration’s decision to greenlight Empire Wind, a foreign-owned development project that will destroy historic American fishing jobs. Empire Wind will close highly productive fishing grounds and irreversibly alter the marine environment. Commercial fishing communities […]
NEFSA Reacts to Trump Presidential Memorandum Opening Thousands of Miles to Fishing
Portland, Maine – The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association commends President Trump for releasing a presidential memorandum that opens a vast swath of ocean to commercial fishing. The previous administration closed 5,000 square miles of ocean to fishing in 2021 when it established the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument southeast of Cape Cod near the edge of […]
Fishermen react to insider push to sabotage pause on offshore wind
A coalition of states have filed a lawsuit to enjoin President Donald Trump’s regulatory moves to pause offshore wind projects. NEFSA CEO Jerry Leeman issued the following statement. “Unlike commercial fishermen and their families, foreign energy developers have powerful political patrons in our country. This lawsuit further demonstrates that fact,” said NEFSA CEO Jerry Leeman. […]
America’s iconic fisheries are making a comeback
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday on restoring America’s seafood dominance. The order breaks with decades of overregulation that has crushed working families in maritime communities and commits the federal government to improving our competitiveness in international markets. “Fishing was the founding trade of our nation. But now our industry is deep in […]