Saving Seafood

Vineyard Wind’s Lights Still Visible As Promised Radar System Remains Inoperative

September 11, 2024 — Nearly a year after Vineyard Wind installed its first turbine off Nantucket, the lights atop the 800-foot towers – which the company promised would remain dark unless an aircraft was passing by – continue to blink incessantly on the horizon.

While the project remains suspended by the federal government following the July 13 blade failure that remains under investigation, Vineyard Wind has been allowed to resume some construction activities, and the lights atop the 24 turbines that have been installed to date have been an eyesore for many who enjoy Nantucket’s dark skies at night.

As part of Vineyard Wind’s mitigation agreement with the town of Nantucket – a document better known as the Good Neighbor Agreement that was signed back in 2020 – the company is required to install a so-called Aircraft Detection Lighting System or ADLS. This system will utilize radar to ensure the lights at the top of each turbine activate only when there is an aircraft close to the wind farm area.

Vineyard Wind initially pledged to have the system operational by Memorial Day weekend. After that deadline came and went, the company pledged in June that the ADLS would be up and running “within the next several weeks.” Now, nearly three months after that statement, there is still no definitive timeline for when the system will be active.

Read the full article at Nantucket Current

Mass. and Rhode Island pick 3 new wind projects, with less power than originally sought

September 9, 2024 — Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced the winners of their joint offshore wind auction on Friday. The three projects selected will be built south of Nantucket and collectively produce up to 2,878 megawatts of electricity — or about what it takes to power 1.6 million homes.

While this total is less than half of what the states originally sought to procure, it helps bring them closer to their legally binding offshore wind targets.

Connecticut, which was also part of the multi-state effort to solicit proposals, did not select any bids on Friday, but left the door open to doing so in the future. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said the state was still evaluating projects and would announce “a final decision” about its solicitation “at a future date.”

When the three states announced their partnership, they had hoped to procure 6,800 megawatts of power — Massachusetts wanted 3,600 megawatts, Connecticut wanted 2,000 megawatts and Rhode Island wanted 1,200.

Though they missed that target, Massachusetts officials touted the bids as great news, noting that it is the largest offshore wind procurement to date in New England.

“We’re going big,” Gov. Maura Healey said at a press conference Friday. “These projects will help create a stronger economy, massive economic development, and importantly, lower electricity costs for our residents and our businesses.”

Read the full article at wbur

MASSACHUSETTS: Mass. picks more offshore wind projects. All three will rely heavily on New Bedford.

September 9, 2024 — In what Gov. Maura Healey’s administration has dubbed the “Largest Offshore Wind Selection in New England History,” Massachusetts officials have made the state’s selections known relative to the latest round of offshore wind project bidding. Massachusetts’ total of 2,678 selected megawatts represents inclusion in three different wind farm projects, all of which are connected to the SouthCoast region: SouthCoast Wind, New England Wind 1, and Vineyard Wind 2.

“Through this procurement, offshore wind will power over 1.4 million Massachusetts homes and reduce the state’s carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking one million gas-powered cars off the road,” the Healey-Driscoll Administration wrote in a press release. “Collectively, these projects will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of economic activity.”

Read the full article at The Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Shucktember!

September 4, 2024 — The following was released by the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association:

Ease into September and support your local oyster farmers by enjoying some Bay State
grown oysters! During the month of September, several Massachusetts growers will donate $1 to the
Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA) for every 100 count bag sold. Eating more Massachusetts
grown oysters during September not only offers oyster lovers the opportunity to enjoy oysters at their
peak but will also support the grower’s organization. MAA is a non-profit trade association that
represents the interests of oyster farmers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Currently, there are
over 400 licensed growers in Massachusetts farming more than 1,300 acres producing shellfish with a
reported value of over $31 million.

The fresh and briny taste of oysters represents more than just good food, but a healthy economy and
environment. Shucktember is a fund-raising effort for the MAA that benefits from the sales of
Massachusetts-grown oysters during the month of September. By supporting the MAA, you are
supporting the growth and support of oyster farms from Cape Ann to Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod to
Martha’s Vineyard and all points between! By ordering Massachusetts-farmed oysters during September,
you help keep our seafood local and support the 2,000 jobs that are made possible by the oyster farming
industry.

The MAA’s Shucktember fund-raiser relies on the voluntary participation of oyster growers, dealers, and
restaurants. Participants are encouraged to contribute 1 cent per oyster that they sell during the month
of September. The funds from Shucktember will support the MAA’s initiatives to address problems that
impact the oyster farming industry and its community members in Massachusetts. According to the MAA
President, Seth Garfield, “We’re not only moving into the time of year when Massachusetts oysters are
at peak condition but purchases of Massachusetts oysters during Shucktember provides customers with
the added benefit of supporting Massachusetts oyster growers through our growers voluntarily
contributing a portion of their sales to the MAA”.

As the frenetic activity of the summer months slows down, show your support by buying and ordering
oysters from our partner farms, businesses, and restaurants. Eating more Massachusetts farmed oysters
during Shucktember is a delicious way to support MAA’s work on behalf of the Commonwealth’s
shellfish growers. Created by MAA, Shucktember was inspired by Ben Lloyd, of Pangea Shellfish and
Massachusetts Aquaculture Association member, we hope to gain your support and make this year our
most successful year to date!

Fast Facts:
● In 2023, over 50 million oysters were produced in the state annually generating more than
$31 million in farm sales.

● The harvesting, sales, and supply chain of oysters supports over 2,000 jobs in the
Commonwealth – including the support of businesses in local communities.

● Oysters are the third most valuable seafood in Massachusetts.

● The MAA represents 25% of the industry. The MAA works with State and Federal
regulators of the seafood industry to keep our water clean, support our growers in times of
hardship, and ensure Massachusetts restaurants are serving local oysters.

● Oysters also provide significant environmental benefit with one adult oysters capable of
filtering 50 gallons of water a day. Oyster reefs can “shore-up” the coastline and attenuate
waves to decrease storm surges.

● Over the past 5 years, the MAA has helped with Covid-19 related business issues, addressed
and supported the implementation of new regulations from the Federal government, and
became a partner of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).

● The MAA works with the DMF to address local issues, guide growers through the grant and
permitting application process, and expand the presence of aquaculture in Massachusetts

○ This includes acting as an advocate by working with elected Massachusetts officials
to address water quality issues in Buzzards Bay that directly impacts 5 shellfish
farms.

Shucktember is made possible through the support of several farm businesses that include:
Barnstable Seafarms – Barnstable
Billingsgate Shellfish – Wellfleet
Cottage City Oysters – Oak Bluffs

Cotuit Oysters – Cotuit
Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms – Gosnold
Ichabod Flat Oysters – Plymouth

Island Creek Oysters – Duxbury
Merry Oysters – Duxbury
Padanaram Oysters – Dartmouth

Pangea Shellfish Company – Boston
Plymouth Rock Oysters – Plymouth

Sandy Neck Oysters – Barnstable
Saquish Oysters – Saquish

Signature Oysters – Katama
Sweetheart Creek – Yarmouth
Ward Aquafarms – Falmouth

*The list of participants in Shucktember 2024 is still growing, for more information about MAA please visit MAAquaculture.org.

The Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA), is a non-profit Trade Association formed in 1986 to promote the continued development of aquaculture and to improve conditions affecting aquaculture in Massachusetts. The goals of MAA are to represent the interests of Massachusetts aquatic farmers, to encourage promotion of high-quality aquaculture products, to grow a thriving aquaculture industry, facilitate the development and transfer of relevant technology and to maintain an effective network between industry, government, and researchers.

MASSACHUSETTS: A landmark celebration of fishing heritage and community

September 3, 2024 — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has installed a striking new landmark in the heart of the City’s Seaport Historic District. Catch the Tradition captures the spirit and enduring legacy of New Bedford, the nation’s most valuable fishing port, and invites visitors to explore the story of commercial fishing, one of the world’s oldest industries, through the Fishing Heritage Center. The public is invited to attend an official unveiling and dedication of the installation on Thursday, September 12 (AHA Night) at 6:00 PM.

Catch the Tradition features an authentic fishing net draped across the entire facade of a historic building at 38 Bethel Street and seven massive documentary images ranging in size, with the largest being 17 feet tall. The images, captured by four emerging and established local photographers (Shareen Davis, Phil Mello, Leia Onofrey, and Peter Pereira), provide a window into the lives of those who work to bring seafood from boat to table.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Fishermen protest at Vineyard Wind as broken turbines energize wind opponents

August 27, 2024 — New England fishing captains held a floating protest against offshore wind Sunday in the waters surrounding Vineyard Wind.

They say the fiberglass debris strewn in the water in July from a broken wind turbine blade has only made them more concerned about living with turbines.

“We’re really concerned about wind farms in the ocean-based environment, and we’re not happy with what’s going on with the current one,” Nantucket charter fishing captain Carl Bois said.

About two dozen boats participated in the protest, he said.

Three offshore wind blades of the type used at Vineyard Wind have suffered failures since May, the most recent on Thursday in the United Kingdom.

Problems with blades on the Haliade-X turbines have energized local offshore wind opponents. As fishing boats protested at Vineyard Wind Sunday, a small group of Nantucket residents protested on the island at Cisco Beach, the Nantucket Current reported.

Nantucket fisherman and charter captain Pete Kaizer, who participated in the protest by boat, told CAI he worries offshore development will contribute to species decline.

“People say, ‘Oh, it’ll come back. It’ll all come back.’ Well, look at all the fisheries that haven’t come back,” he said, citing cod, herring, and mackerel. “They’re at rock bottom.”

Read the full story at WCAI

 

Wind power construction noise doesn’t destroy whale habitat, feds find

August 27, 2024 — The federal government issued a new “biological opinion” on the offshore wind power project off Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, finding that pile-driving noise associated with Vineyard Wind 1 is likely to adversely affect, but not likely to jeopardize, the continued existence of whales, fish or sea turtles listed under the Endangered Species Act.

“It will have no effect on any designated critical habitat,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said in a statement. “NOAA Fisheries does not anticipate serious injuries to or mortalities of any ESA listed whale including the North Atlantic right whale.” The agency said that with mitigation measures, “all effects to North Atlantic right whales will be limited to temporary behavioral disturbance.”

NOAA Fisheries said Friday it was issuing its new opinion to the “federal action agencies” including Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which approved the Vineyard Wind 1 Project in 2021 and oversees offshore wind power development in federal lease areas.

Read the full story at WBUR

Fishermen stage floating protest at Vineyard Wind site

August 27, 2024 — As concerns mount over the July collapse of one Vineyard Wind turbine blade, a “flotilla” of about two dozen commercial and recreational fishing vessels steamed to the wind farm on Sunday to protest offshore wind development and its impact on the marine ecosystem.

The vessels, hoisting anti-offshore wind flags and blasting air horns, departed early Sunday morning from ports in New Bedford, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Rhode Island and along the Cape, converging at about noon on the site of the crippled Vineyard Wind turbine.

“The blade collapse was an eye-opener to a lot of people who before didn’t know that offshore wind is a disaster for the ocean,” said Shawn Machie, 54, who is captain of the New Bedford scalloper F/V Capt. John.

On July 13, one of the three blades on turbine AW38 sustained damage while undergoing testing. Five days later, a 300-foot section of the blade collapsed into the water leaving fiberglass debris floating in fishing grounds and scattered across beaches, mostly on Nantucket. It marked an inflection point as the first industrial energy incident in this era of offshore wind development in waters off the Northeast coast.

Read the full story at The New Bedford Light

Cape Cod regional leaders ask feds for more direct role in plans for offshore wind

August 26, 2024 — Barnstable County officials are calling on the federal government to involve the community more directly in offshore wind plans for the Outer Cape.

The Assembly of Delegates voted Wednesday to send a letter to the Biden administration making that request.

In an interview before the vote, Assembly Speaker Pat Princi of Barnstable said Cape Codders need to be heard.

“There’s just a lot that really hasn’t been talked about that is of major concern to residents who live here, work here, who support their families here,” he said.

Before the meeting, Wellfleet Delegate Lilli-Ann Green drafted a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland asking to turn back the clock five years on Outer Cape offshore wind.

Read the full article at CAI