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Study of Commercial Fishing in Nantucket Sound: Considerations pertinent to
the proposed wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal
Project summary: The MFP convened a focus group meeting in Hyannis
to hear from representatives of each of the fishing sectors that
traditionally fish in Nantucket Sound. Participants were interviewed and
asked to mark charts of the Sound showing customary areas of commercial
fishing which was immediately digitized in GIS. The information collected was
augmented by landings data from the Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries and some additional information gathered from other fishermen. The
consensus of those interviewed for this project is that if the wind farm is
built as planned, it will close the most productive portion of the Sound’s
fishing grounds to the mobile gear fishing fleet. They claim the footprint
would take up about 1/3 of the active vessels’ fishing grounds, but could
diminish their landings by two-thirds.
One hundred, twenty-three commercial vessels have been identified by name
as fishing in Nantucket Sound. Interviewees estimated that commercial mobile
gear fishing vessels earn one-half to 60 percent of their annual income
fishing on Horseshoe Shoal, the proposed area of the wind farm. The
interviewees warned that the presence of wind turbines on the shoals would
certainly force some existing commercial fishing businesses to move their
activities into other areas of the Sound. In addition, these businesses would
probably have to target alternative species, possibly including species that
are already fully exploited in the Sound. They believe that potential impacts
include gear conflicts, overfishing, and economic losses. The final report of
this project is intended to convey the input of the focus group participants,
and to relate their consensus of the need to warn of the potential impacts of
the wind farm project.
Project partners:
Dr. Madeleine Hall-Arber, MIT Sea Grant College Program
David Bergeron, Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership
Dr. Rhonda Ryznar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Full Report
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