Jerry Leeman, CEO of the New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association (NEFSA) issued the following statement on the Gulf of Maine wind lease auction, which begins on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
"The government put our livelihoods and our coastal communities up on the auction block. The areas slated for industrialization cover prime, multi-generational fishing grounds that will likely close forever, jeopardizing our ability to make a living and support partner businesses on shore.
Moreover, as we have previously explained, the six development sites in the southern gulf will effectively block safe access to much of Georges Bank. We anticipate fishermen will congregate in the western gulf once development is underway, introducing unwelcome pressure to our near-shore fisheries.
As the Vineyard Wind debacle shows, offshore wind development is an environmental and economic travesty. We regret the Gulf of Maine is one step closer to industrialization."
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