Commercial Fishermen, Sport fishers Divided on Plans for More Offshore Wind

Commercial fishermen say the wind-energy projects planned for southern New England, such as the South Fork Wind Farm, are the latest threats to their income after decades of quotas and regulations “I don’t like the idea of the ocean being taken away from me after I’ve thrown so many big-dollar fish back in the water for the last 30 years, praying I’d get it back in the end,” said Dave Aripotch, owner of a 75-foot trawl-fishing boat based in Montauk, N.Y. Dave Monti of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association said the submerged turbine foundations at the Block Island Wind Farm created artificial reefs, boosting fish populations and attracting charter boats like his. >click to read<10:07

2 Responses to Commercial Fishermen, Sport fishers Divided on Plans for More Offshore Wind

  1. Ec Newell Man says:

    Credibility folks, and that is in question whenever the ‘Dave Monti’s’ who supposedly represents fishermen (recreational), comes up with this extremely inaccurate (aka BS) talking point, to wit: “Created artificial reefs, boosting fish populations.”

    First, is the area south of Block Island where the five wind turbines have been placed, are within a large expanse of rocky bottom where can clearly been seen if one just looks at a NOAA chart. South of Block Island, Rhode Island is a many miles in expanse of a natural artificial reef. Who can deny this?

    Second is something that the enviro’s always love to talk about at the fishery meetings….”where is the data,” and there is no data, thus the so-called science from any peer reviewed study in this region that the structure provided by the installation of wind turbines at Block Island have contributed any increase to the biomass of any species of fish in this region. Has anyone confirmed a “new spawning area” due to the installation of five wind turbines off Block Island?”

    Someone should ask Capt. Monti, “Have you, or the organizations you are a part of, received any money or compensation from those who represent wind energy interests?” One can read some comments and information on the development of WMA off southern Rhode Island can be read on the online RISSA magazine: https://www.risaa.org/newsletter/0918/Sep2018.pdf

    It still makes you wonder how people do not see all the information that is currently available that wind energy is extremely unreliable thus inefficient as far as the amount of electricity it can deliver when needed, and what should worry everyone about electricity cost to both businesses and consumers in that it is 3-4x higher then reliable fossil fuel energy products such as derived from natural gas and crude oil.

    More so is a component to wind energy which those “all in with pushing wind energy development,” rarely like to mention:

    “The true cost of wind power, however, is what consumers and society as a whole pay both to purchase wind-generated electricity and also to subsidize the wind energy industry through taxes and government debt.”

    Further:

    “The true cost of wind energy is higher than most cost estimates calculate. Mandates requiring the use of wind energy increase electricity costs for consumers, and subsidies mask the actual cost of doing so.”

    As for those who are always worried about “saving the planet” (HA!), interesting enough as noted on the EIA.GOV website have a story from with the last two weeks, “Carbon dioxide emissions from the U.S. power sector have declined 28% since 2005.”

    Who can debate the facts about the continued ‘green energy scam?’

    • Joel Hovanesian says:

      Someone should ask Capt. Monti, “Have you, or the organizations you are a part of, received any money or compensation from those who represent wind energy interests?”

      I believe the answer to this question is an unequivocal YES. I could be wrong but I don’t think so. Those who take money from these lying wind shills to promote their existence are total sellouts.

      Basically Mr. Monti is saying hooray for me and the for hire fishing industry and fuck you commercial fishermen, who actually feed people. #soullessfucks

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