August 9, 2023 — The Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), an independent marine nonprofit dedicated to studying the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the people who depend on it, recently announced the hiring of Glenn Prickett as its next CEO. Prickett, who was previously president and CEO of the World Environment Center in Washington, D.C., has 35 years of environmental, climate, and business development experience working with NGOs, volunteer organizations, and the private sector. He will start his tenure at GMRI in September. In an interview with SeafoodSource, Prickett discussed his new role and what he hopes to accomplish during his time at the helm of GMRI.
MAINE: Fishermen’s Alliance Highlights Offshore Wind Threat to Haddock, Lobster Fisheries in Gulf of Maine
August 8, 2023 — An alliance of groups representing New England’s fishermen is highlighting scientific research that suggests offshore wind development could have “population-scale effects” on key fish and crustacean species in the Gulf of Maine, including electromagnetism-induced deformities in lobsters.
The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) on Monday released an “Offshore Wind Research Summary” summarizing the existing scientific research on the environmental impact of offshore wind power development.
The scientific evidence, they believe, shows that offshore wind development would have unpredictable and potentially harmful consequences for key marine species, such as lobster and haddock.
“The studies featured in the Research Summary indicate that there is no scientific consensus as to the effects of offshore wind on ocean ecosystems and marine life,” said Jerry Leeman, NEFSA CEO and a longtime commercial fishing captain.
“We cannot industrialize the Gulf of Maine until we understand how the wind industry interacts with the fisheries that wild harvesters have stewarded responsibly for decades,” Leeman said.
The interaction between wind power development and marine species is generally understudied. That means there could be massive unintended or unforeseeable consequences from an unprecedented industrial project in the Gulf of Maine.
MAINE: Maine approves lobster innovation fund as study reveals high costs of ropeless gear
August 4, 2023 — The U.S. state of Maine recently passed an act to create a Lobster Innovation Fund to provide financing to commercial fishermen to test new lobster fishing technologies, just days before the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) released a report finding a full transition to ropeless lobster gear would cost the fishery in more ways than just higher equipment costs.
The new fund, created through a law signed by Maine Governor Janet Mills on 27 July, would pay lobstermen to test new gear to learn how the gear would impact their fishing. The testing would add to the growing body of scientific data obtained through studies of alternative in both Maine and Massachusetts.
Leeman: Maine must hit pause on offshore wind turbines
August 2, 2023 — You wouldn’t buy a house without an inspection, so why would we fill the Gulf of Maine with wind turbine superstructures without understanding how they interact with the marine environment?
Offshore wind energy features too many unknowns to proceed at this point with widescale ocean industrialization. That’s why my organization, the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) has joined with partner organizations to call on state and federal authorities to reset our renewable energy policy.
The state of Maine is developing a floating offshore wind research array at a 15-square-mile site in the Gulf of Maine. NEFSA and its allies are asking state and federal authorities to delay any further development until experts have monitored and studied the research array. We should rescind the existing Gulf of Maine Call Area and conduct an environmental review for the Gulf of Maine before identifying any commercial wind energy areas.
I’ve been a fishing boat captain for over 20 years. I sailed out of New Bedford, Mass., and have scores of fishermen in my family lineage. From generation to generation, we have upheld a legacy of environmental stewardship and economic dynamism that has maintained the fishing industry in the Gulf of Maine while providing billions for New England’s economy. But every principle of stewardship and hard work we have upheld to preserve our maritime heritage is in jeopardy and could force our region into oblivion.
MAINE: Board votes to consider raising quota of valuable baby eels that Maine fisherman can catch
August 2, 2023 — Regulators voted Tuesday to consider raising the amount of a valuable baby eel that can be harvested from Maine’s waterways, though conservationists say the eel populations are declining and need better protection.
A board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an interstate regulatory panel that manages the baby eel fishing industry and other fisheries, voted unanimously to consider raising the total annual quota of slightly less than 10,000 pounds (4,535 kilograms) of the tiny eels that has been in place for nearly a decade.
The eels are typically worth more than $2,000 per pound because of their value to Asian aquaculture companies, which raise them to maturity and sell them for use in Japanese restaurants around the world.
MAINE: Maine fishermen gather in opposition to the push for offshore wind development
July 31, 2023 — Dozens of Mainers met up on Bailey Island to support fisheries and to show opposition to offshore wind development as legislation signed into law this week moves the project forward.
LD 1895 “An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources,” signed by Gov. Janet Mills, works to lay out a plan to develop the offshore wind project responsibly, add strong standards for workers, both on and off the water, as well as avoid disruption of important fishing grounds.
MAINE: Maine legislature passes bill to develop offshore wind energy industry in the Gulf of Maine
July 30, 2023 — On July 26, 2023, the Maine Legislature passed amended bill “An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources” (LD 1895), which aims to develop offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine while maintaining good-paying jobs for Maine workers. The bill has been sent to Governor Janet Mills.
LD 1895 is sponsored by Senator Mark Lawrence, who stated, “Record-setting temperatures, dangerous and unpredictable storms and rising ocean levels and temperatures demonstrate the urgency of developing offshore wind and meeting our state’s goals for renewable energy. I’m grateful to my fellow legislators for supporting this bill. LD 1895 represents a detailed path to smart offshore wind development that will benefit our environment, Maine workers and coastal communities.”
MAINE: Maine lawmakers endorse proposal that would jumpstart offshore wind projects
July 25, 2023 — Maine is poised to launch an offshore wind program that would meet clean energy goals and produce enough power for about 900,000 homes from floating wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine.
The legislation, which was endorsed by lawmakers Tuesday, calls for requests for proposals to be issued for 3,000 megawatts of electricity from offshore wind turbines by 2040. That’s enough electricity to power about half of Maine’s electricity load.
“This bill means jobs. It means lower, more stable energy prices, while at the same time addressing climate change. We need to pass this bill now,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Lawrence, the bill’s sponsor.
MAINE: Family and friends recall missing Down East lobsterman’s love of fishing
July 24, 2023 — Three days after he was reported missing and his empty boat was found with the motor still running, family and friends of a Steuben lobsterman are losing hope of seeing the young man safely brought back to shore.
Tylar Michaud, 18, was last seen Friday morning heading out for the day to haul and set traps near Petit Manan Point, according to the Maine Marine Patrol. He was reported missing about 5 p.m. Friday when he failed to return. On Sunday the U.S. Coast Guard ended its participation in the search.
Calls to the U.S. Coast Guard Northern New England Sector were not immediately returned on Sunday.
MAINE: Multi-million dollar bill to support lobster industry advances
July 17, 2023 — Senator Susan Collins has announced she has advanced more than $35 million in an appropriations bill for the next fiscal year to support Maine’s lobster industry.
The bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and still needs the approval of Congress.
$30 million would go to the Atlantic Marine States Fisheries Commission for Right Whale related research and monitoring.
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