January 25, 2021
on behalf of:
Patrice McCarron, Maine Lobstermen’s Association
Ben Martens, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association
Annie Tselikis, Maine Lobster Dealers Association
Rocky Alley, Maine Lobstering Union
Paul Anderson, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries
Sheila Dassatt, Downeast Lobstermen’s Association
Maine fishermen are deeply committed to clean energy and protecting the environment. We draw our
livelihoods from the ocean and recognize the fragility of our shared marine environment. Maine
fishermen understand and support the need to develop clean renewable energy sources, but do not
share the Governor’s vision to achieve this through rushed offshore wind development in the Gulf of
Maine.
While the Gulf appears vast and without borders, it is, in reality, an area well‐managed by generations of
fishermen who feed our nation with healthy, sustainably harvested seafood.
“The Gulf of Maine is a rich and nourishing workplace and Maine’s fishermen have long been stewards
of its tremendous resources. We advocate that Maine continue our industry’s long tradition of
protecting, rather than industrializing, our precious ocean resources,” said Ben Martens, Executive
Director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.
Maine’s fishing community is deeply concerned that wind development will end our fishing heritage
which has sustained our coastal communities for centuries and is an integral part of Maine’s identity.
Without dedicated research proving otherwise, we are skeptical that offshore wind can deliver on its
promise of affordable clean energy as promised by global energy companies.
Nineteen-year-old fisherman Josh Todd of Chebeague Island worries, “I'm an 11th generation fisherman
and I am very proud of my family's legacy. I don’t want to be the last generation in my family to fish
because we are replaced with another industry.”
As professionals with a deep understanding of our ocean environment, Maine fishermen have
specialized knowledge, experience, and perspective that should be fully understood before planning any
offshore wind project. Undue haste in a time of a deadly pandemic will not foster this collaboration with
fishermen, and ultimately, will result in an unreliable and untrustworthy basis for future planning
efforts.
Rock Alley, president of the Maine Lobstering Union notes, “The fishing community has taken care of
the sea for generations yet our knowledge is continually disregarded or minimized. We need time to do
this project the right way or not at all.”
Maine’s fishing community does not support offshore wind implemented through careless timelines and
uncertain technology, and feels there are better ways to achieve Maine’s clean energy future. We will
continue to engage in conversations and demand accountability through the use of sound science,
adequate planning timelines, and thorough economic, environmental, and cost-benefit analyses of
proposed projects.
“The state of Maine should be wary of trading its fishing heritage by entering a race to fulfill empty
promises from international energy companies,” warned Patrice McCarron, Executive Director of the
Maine Lobstermen’s Association.
