At a meeting held on Tuesday at City Hall, local fishermen stated their concerns over the development of offshore wind projects in waters off Massachusetts and Rhode Island to the director of the federal Bureau of Offshore Energy Management, Tommy Beaudreau.
Mr. Beaudreau said that BOEM has excluded Cox’s Ledge, a fish spawning area, from the plan of the proposed area. “We need to be respectful and protective of the fishing industry. That’s our responsibility,” he said.
Nevertheless, fishermen are searching for additional safeguards, says the South Coast Today news portal.
Jim Kendall, fishery consultant, welcomed the removal of Cox’s Ledge, but highlighted the need for gathering data on the environmental impact of the turbines. Also, fishermen need an economic assessment of the effects if the “fishing productivity declines or access is restricted”.
In conclusion, Mr. Beaudreau said that BOEM cannot determine more until operators say what will be built. He underlined that the project is still in its initial stage.
[mappress]
Offshore WIND Staff, July 18, 2012; Image: Deepwater Wind