Maine Lobstermen Face Extinction Threat From Big Wind Corporations, Environmentalists
Fishmen question the apparent contradictions between offshore wind proponents and whale conservation
SWAN’S ISLAND, Maine—For more than 200 years, the Joyce family has weathered storms, the troughs and crests of the economy, and the inherent danger of working on the ocean to draw its living from the sea.
They would not have it any other manner.
“I’ve always been immersed in this,” The Epoch Times interviewed Jason Joyce, an eighth-generation lobsterman.
The lobstermen have been fighting with the elements for decades and now face new threats to their existence. The federal government has given the green light to offshore wind corporations that plan anchoring towering windmills on the water where the fish.
Since years wind corporations have funded environmental groups which in turn accuse the lobstermen that they are endangering North Atlantic right Whales.
“They’ve been after us for 25 years now,” Galen “Sput” Joyce’s neighbor, Staples was a fellow lobsterman and told The Epoch Times.
Swan’s Island covers approximately 80 miles of forested hilly land. It has a small harbour, beautiful homes and an automated lighthouse.
It is located six miles offshore of the coast. Accessible only by ferry, this island can be reached from mainland. Harbor Watch Inn is the only hotel. Management advises that customers pick up grocery items before they catch the ferry to avoid disappointment.
Joyce and other lobstermen meet in Swan’s Island Fishermens Co-op on most mornings to drink bad coffee and have good conversation.
The majority of them learned the trade from their dads or grandfathers. Many have their own stories about setting traps when they were young.
Their parents were in the business and worked as employees. “stern men” Their family boats till they bought their own. Part-time fishing and side work. The co-op lobstermen can’t imagine doing any other job.
By law, Maine lobstermen are owner–operators. Maine lobstermen are not permitted to fish on corporate vessels. The lobsters are instead caught in small boats, often with fewer than five crew members. That promotes conservation because a small operator is less likely to cut corners and risk his entire business, Joyce said.
However, it makes them attractive targets for corporations who wish to take control of the ocean.
“We’re the little guy. We can’t fight back,” Staples said.
James Joyce in 1806 dropped the traps and has not made any significant changes to lobstermen’s tools. James, with a little practice would be capable of captaining Jason’s boat. Today’s lobstermen, like their ancestors, use a trap, buoy and line to connect them. This is known as the “a” assembly. “haul.”
The lobsterman sets the trap by baiting it and then drops it at the bottom. A buoy locates the trap and gives information about who placed it. To retrieve the trap, the lobsterman must use the line that connects the buoy and the trap. This line is what the environmental groups are referring to as the “crux” of their accusation.
To save the North Atlantic right Whale, wildlife conservation and environmental groups along with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) and National Marine Fisheries Service are calling for an end to those lines.
According to the NOAA, human contact is a major factor in whale deaths. The agency claims that whales can become caught in lobster traps, causing injury and death.
According to the NOAA website, 97 right whales had deadly and often lethal encounters since 2017
There were 36 deaths, 22 severe injuries, and 38 survivors. Both environmental organizations and government agencies responded to the call by getting involved.
Only nine of the 36 fatalities reported by NOAA involved entanglements. Of those 36 deaths, only nine were caused by entanglements.
Environmental groups and animal rights organizations have launched campaigns to save right whales. These have generally depicted the seafood industry, and lobstermen, as being hostile. Whole Foods ended the sale of Maine lobster in their stores on November 20, 2022.
The supermarket chain said that the information it used was from Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, California, and London’s Marine Stewardship Council.
Each group claimed that fishing for lobster was unsustainable and dangerous to whales.
To save whales, the National Marine Fisheries Service started issuing regulations.
Nonfloating lines were used by lobstermen to prevent entanglement. The possibility of entanglement is reduced if a buoy gets separated from the line.
This almost guarantees that the lobsterman will fall for it.
Use of lobstermen is also a requirement “weak links” In their lines. These sections are made to be separated if there is too much pressure. If a whale becomes trapped, it should be able pull itself out of the way.
The government issued regulations requiring lobstermen increase the number and size of the traps they use for each haul. This rule is based on the logic that more lines mean less traps.
These regulations are part of a 10-year program to force lobstermen to lower the whale-risk by 98% by 2024.
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association says its members comply with rules as they wish to protect the environment. However, it claims that a 98% reduction in environmental pollution is impossible.
However, the association lost its suit to stop government plans.
A provision in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act was added by the Maine congressional delegation. This delayed the rule from December 2028 to the date. Recent efforts have been made for its repeal.
Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), a Democratic ranking member, introduced the House Natural Resources Committee Bill on February 27, 2007. He was the ex-chairman of that committee. “Restoring Effective Science-based Conservation Under Environmental Laws Protecting Whales Act of 2023,” Or the “RESCUE Whales Act.”
Grijalva’s spokesperson said that there is no reason to delay enforcing the 98% reduction requirements, as the Omnibus Bill also funds lobstermen to transition to ropeless fishing gear.
“We want to continue to incentivize the deployment of this technology and get it in the water as quickly as possible, which is why Rep. Grijalva championed the passage of $20 million in funding in the FY 2023 omnibus to help transition the lobster fishing industry to ropeless gear,” Jason Johnson was Grijalva’s communications director and wrote an email to The Epoch Times.
The lobstermen claim that ropeless technology isn’t widely used and it can be very costly.
Joyce stated that Grijalva should be focusing on matters closer to home.
“Why don’t you introduce a bill to assist the enforcement needs of Cochise County [Arizona] Sheriff Mark Dannels in managing your border and leave Maine Lobstermen alone as we continue to maintain a perfect record of zero right whale deaths ever, and zero entanglements since 2004,” Joyce replied to Johnson’s email.
Joyce and other lobstermen do not dispute NOAA’s estimates of whale numbers. But, they claim that these numbers aren’t the entire story. Lobstermen argue that government doesn’t acknowledge scientific evidence showing that whale migration patterns are changing and that whales move further from Maine.
“Simply put—the federal government is wrongly holding Maine lobstermen accountable for the decline of the right whale population,” The Maine Lobstermen’s Association website has this information. “Its plan will end the Maine lobster fishery but won’t save right whales.”
In the midst of all this, there is the off-shore wind lobby.
Governor of Maine Janet Mills (Democrat) has supported Maine’s lobster industry. She also wants Maine to receive 100 percent of its electricity. “green” By 2040, energy resources will be abundant. Her plan includes offshore wind as a key element.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Biden administration continues to push forward with their plan to encourage offshore wind. The Gulf of Maine is where the Swan’s Island lobstermen live and work.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published an announcement in August 2022. “request for interest” The Department of the Interior reports that interest has been shown in the development of commercial-wind energy leases on a 13.7-million-acre Gulf of Maine area. To collect baseline information about the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Maine, it has already spent $80 million.
According to lobstermen, windmills could ruin their fishing areas, devastate their industry and be a greater danger for whales.
Mills believes that they could coexist.
The Eastern Seaboard is witnessing developments that raise concerns about the effects of windmills on the sea and life, even though the first turbines have not yet been operational.
Between December 2022 and now, 25 whales have been found dead at the New York-New Jersey beaches. Also, in Maryland and Virginia, there have been whales washed to shore.
Some believe the deaths occurred during seismic surveys to build offshore windmills. There is also concern about the possibility that the sound of the tests could interfere with the whales’ navigation and cause damage.
A moratorium is being called for by three congressmen as well as more than 12 mayors from coastal areas that are close to offshore wind energy sites. This will allow an investigation into the recent wave of deaths and exclude wind farm activity.
NOAA and the pro-offshore winds factions claim there isn’t any evidence linking offshore wind development testing to whale deaths. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t any effects.
Jan. 18: Representatives from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management fielded questions to reporters regarding whale deaths and offshore wind.
A speaker mentioned that some testing may have had an impact, but he didn’t believe it would be connected with mortality.
“I think the way we’ve been describing it … it has the potential to have a behavioral influence,” Brian Hooker (biologist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) is responsible for the Biology Team at the Bureau of Renewable Energy Programs. “And that’s what’s the very effect that we anticipate could occur.”
Benjamin Laws (Deputy Chief for Conservation and Permits Division for NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources) was quick to jump in.
“Well, I just want to be unambiguous, there is no information that would support any suggestion that any of the equipment that’s being used in support of wind development for these site characterization surveys could directly lead to the death of a whale,” Laws said.
For years environmentalists raised concern over seismic testing in the oil sector. Erica Staaterman, Center for Marine Acoustics at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says that seismic equipment used offshore by wind companies is different from the one in the oil sector.
According to her, offshore wind equipment is quieter and smaller than the oil-and gas industry.
“So, for example, many of them are used for very short periods of time with a long quiet time in between. So that means that they’re only on for several milliseconds, and then for about 15 seconds, it would be quiet,” Staaterman told reporters.
Lauren Gaches, a spokesperson for NOAA said that scientists are continuing to investigate the whale deaths. There isn’t any conclusive evidence to suggest that seismic survey caused the deaths.
“Strandings and inconclusive necropsies have occurred long before offshore wind was a factor, so correlating the two now is not based in science,” Gaches wrote. “Necropsies can take weeks to months to complete the tissue sample analyses, so that work remains underway.”
Joyce observed that many environmental groups, which have been harsh about lobster traps, are not supportive of surveying. Some even supported the idea of offshore wind development to fight climate change.
A temporary line from the lobster trap can pose a danger to whales. However, permanent underwater cables and pilings for thousands of offshore windmills don’t present a problem.
A report from the “Save Right Whales Coalition,” The environmentalists may have more issues than simply climate change.
This group is composed of individuals along the East Coast concerned about the impact that offshore wind development has on their communities and the ocean. This group released its report, “Conflicts of Interest: Environmental Organizations Take Offshore Wind Industry Money,” Its website webpage.
“A recent investigation found many conservation groups accept millions of dollars in donations from the offshore wind industry,” The group composed.
According to Orsted Global, a Danish company that produces wind energy has donated $500,000 in 2018 to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (U.S.), according to its website.
It was announced by the institute that they were closing its doors in November. “excited to use Department of Energy funds to make offshore wind more sustainable.”
Eversource reports that Orsted donated $1.25million along with Eversource to Mystic Aquatic, a Connecticut-based marine aquarium. Eversource has customers throughout Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Mystic Aquarium reported that the funds were used to fund media projects and build an exhibit featuring state-of-the art solar, wind and geothermal energy.
“In November 2021, the aquarium developed a video titled ‘The Promise of Offshore Wind,’ with Orsted listed as a ‘supporter’ in the credits,” This is the text of the report.
Federal Agencies Involved
To connect federal projects and private finance to protect wildlife and habitat, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (501(c),3) was created by the federal government in 1984.
According to this report, Avangrid Renewables, an energy company, donated between $100,000 and $499,999 to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in 2019 and 2020.
According to a statement on its website, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation entered an agreement in 2021 with U.S.-based wind company Apex Clean Energy. Apex will donate $1,000 for every megawatt of Apex’s generating capacity. The foundation will match that donation dollar-fordollar in order to fund grants.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s website includes a link that will allow you to access a program designed to protect whales from being entrapped in fishing equipment. However, there is no mention on possible threats from the offshore winds industry.
‘You Guys Aren’t Concerned About Whales at All’
While the local activists may be motivated by good intentions, Sawyer Spencer—a lifelong lobsterman and a regular at the co-op—doubts the motivations of the moneyed interests. His view was summarized by a fisherman that he heard quoted on local television.
“He said, ‘You guys aren’t concerned about the whales at all,'” Sawyer said.
Samuel Joy is an Island native, aged 30 and the child of a Minister who spent his entire life lobstering.
Joy, his four-year-old son Elias, built lobster traps while sitting in front of his wood-burning stove. Joyce, his father, sat nearby.
Joy is friendly and approachable with dark hair, calm demeanour, and an easygoing personality. As with the other lobstermen, Joy spoke to The Epoch Times and said he is all about conserving whales. He also wants to protect the environment. He wants to keep the work and life he loves.
“I’ve been fishing every summer since I was 5 years old. I want to give [Elias] as much opportunity as I had when I was a kid,” He stated.
Joy states that he is cautiously optimistic, and is quick when asked whether he recommends that young men consider lobstering as their vocation.
“Just fish until they make you stop,” He stated.
Sawyer stated that the adverse effects of setting up offshore wind farms and whale regulations would go beyond displacing lobstermen. Consider the impact economics of lobstering on the coast communities, and the wider region.
“The whole state of Maine is going to be displaced,” Sawyer said. “What we’re doing is trying to survive.”
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