Dozens of fishermen from the east coast traveled in a flotilla Sunday to the site of the broken Vineyard Wind turbine, to protest the threat that offshore wind poses on the ocean and maritime communities. In addition to the boat protest, dozens of locals gathered on shore for a peaceful "Hands Across the Beach" protest.
Vineyard Wind, which continues to erect giant turbine towers taller than the Statue of Liberty, has been anything but transparent with fishermen and locals. Fishermen remain concerned that the wind farm cannot withstand winter conditions and powerful ocean storms.
Jerry Leeman, CEO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, issued the following statement: “Vineyard Wind is a menace to our fisheries. Floating fiberglass shards remain a navigation and safety risk for mariners over a month after the blade disaster. We have no idea what effects this industrial litter will have on local food chains. Worse still, we have no idea whether this could happen again. Fishermen understand the volatility of the North Atlantic better than anyone, and we are not confident these turbines and blade components will survive a winter squall or a hurricane in light of July’s catastrophe.”
“The Vineyard Wind project is proof that offshore wind will crush fishermen and maritime communities.”
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