Tag Archives: Martha’s Vineyard
Pickup of seabed debris at Vineyard Wind broken turbine underway
Work is underway to recover debris that sank to the seafloor below Vineyard Wind’s AW-38 turbine when the blade broke apart in July, according to GE Vernova, the company that manufactures and installs the turbine parts. Efforts began on Sunday and were ongoing as of Tuesday afternoon. It’s been three months since one of the three football field-sized blades on turbine AW-38 collapsed, sending pieces of fiberglass, rigid foam and balsawood crashing into the ocean. Large pieces immediately sank, but other debris of varying sizes washed ashore on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, parts of Cape Cod and along Narragansett Bay for weeks afterwards. Some beach walkers are still reporting finding small remnants. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:33
Right whales and offshore wind: reflections on an uneasy coexistence
Michael Moore has spent decades studying North Atlantic right whales. He’s seen somewhere around 150 of them. It’s a feat, given that now there are just about 360 left in the world. But the veterinarian, author, and scientist emeritus from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution had never seen an offshore wind farm up close — until last week. “Look at them. All out in neat little rows,” he said, standing at the rear of a 53-foot charter boat that offered a closeup view of construction on Vineyard Wind, 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. About half of the planned 62 turbines are fully constructed, reaching more than 250 meters into the sky. When the boat slowed down to pass beneath one of the turbines, Moore was awestruck by the length of a blade. “Right whales are 40 to 50 feet,” he said. “So, you can stretch seven right whales along the length of one of these blades.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:48
Vineyard Wind Turbine Failure: Incident Details, Regulatory Response, and Industry Implications
On July 13, 2024, an offshore wind turbine at the Vineyard Wind 1 project experienced a significant blade failure, leading to debris washing up on Nantucket’s beaches and prompting a federal shutdown of the wind farm. This incident raises obvious questions about the safety and reliability of offshore wind projects, as well as the regulatory framework governing this emerging industry. In the days following the incident, debris from the broken turbine blade began washing up on Nantucket’s south shore beaches. Residents reported finding pieces of green and white foam, along with larger pieces of fiberglass, stretching from Madaket to Nobadeer. In response to the incident, the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) ordered Vineyard Wind to shut down operations “until further notice”. The BSEE, which oversees offshore energy projects, sent a team of experts to work closely with Vineyard Wind on analyzing the cause of the incident and determining next steps. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:22
Broken Offshore Wind Blade Debris Washes Up in Nantucket
Investigators are probing the cause of a damaged offshore wind turbine blade that sent debris washing ashore at Nantucket Beach and shut down swimming in the area. The incident occurred Saturday evening at the 800-megawatt Vineyard Wind project under construction near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, prompting the probe by federal officials, developers Avangrid Inc. and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners P/S, and GE Vernova Inc., which manufactured the Haliade-X turbines used at the site. Operations at the site have been suspended while investigations are underway, and authorities closed Nantucket’s south shore to swimming for three days. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:46
UPDATED: ‘Three large blade pieces.’ Vineyard Wind wind turbine blade snaps. Search underway
A blade on one of the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore turbines was damaged over the weekend, prompting an investigation by the blade’s manufacturer. In a statement released Monday afternoon, the offshore wind developer referred only to “an incident involving blade damage on a wind turbine” in the offshore energy area south of Martha’s Vineyard. According to the company, the undisclosed damage happened on Saturday evening. No employees, contractors or fishing vessels were in the vicinity of the turbine at the time. No details were given as to the nature of the damage, how long the blade has been in place, or whether it was on an already operating turbine or one under construction. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:45
Steamship PETA ad roils Islanders
In the hallways of the Steamship Authority (SSA) passenger ferry Martha’s Vineyard, six posters were recently put on display asking passengers a provocative question: “Did your lobster kill a whale?” According to the SSA, the animal rights advocacy organization paid a total of $28,000 to hang their posters through October 31. But the advertisements have incensed some Islanders and local fishermen, who say the local fishing industry is unfairly targeted. Some even point a finger at the Steamship, calling the ferry service hypocritical for allowing the ads when the administration has criticized regulations that would protect right whales. Island lobsterman Wes Brighton called the Steamship Authority “out of touch with the community.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:45
A submerged concern: offshore wind cables
As offshore wind turbines undergo construction in waters south of the Vineyard, and with some already standing and delivering power, the debates on the Island regarding the industry continue. John Keene, president of the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, told the Times that some in the fishing industry are nervous about how the electromagnetic field from the cables can affect marine life. Keene said the concern is that the fields emitted from cables could act like a fence, particularly for migratory species, and impact the behavior of marine species. “There’s a lot of unknowns,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:14
Wind turbines and a shadow over Island fishers
Their boat is named Redemption. And as seventeen-year-old Tegan Gale walked onto the lobster boat docked at Tashmoo landing on a warm March Day, he was thinking about what the boat meant to him and about his future. Tegan says he loves being out on the water, and he wants to keep the family tradition alive, but he’s up against what he sees as big business and a lot of uncertainty. And now, there’s another layer of uncertainty: the new offshore wind industry. Tegan isn’t alone. Several Island fishermen say the new industry has the potential to disrupt their work for years to come. They have questions about the impacts of underwater cables extending from the turbines and dragging nets over the high-voltage wires. They also have fears about the impact to sea life during construction of the offshore wind farms. more, >>click to read<< 13:26
Island Fishermen Unlikely to Benefit from Vineyard Wind Fund
A program aimed at compensating fishermen for lost revenues during the construction and operation of the first offshore wind farm south of the Vineyard will not benefit Island-based fishermen, according to a representative from the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust. But according to Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust president John Keene, the restrictive requirements to qualify for the fund will leave local fishermen in the lurch. Mr. Keene also noted that money from the fund will go to vessel owner/operators, who are not obligated to distribute funds to their crew. Island fishermen who crew for New Bedford-based vessels as part of the season, therefore, might also be left out of the compensation, even if they work on ships in the lease area. more, >>click to read<< 12:07
Commercial fisherman Jeffrey Thomas Clements of Oak Bluffs, Marthas Vineyard, has passed away
Jeffrey Thomas Clements, 67, passed away on Friday, August 4, 2023, while out on his boat off State Beach, doing what he loved. Jeffrey was born on July 18, 1956, in Oak Bluffs. He was the son of Albert R. Clements and Lorraine E. (DeMont) Clements. Jeffrey grew up in Oak Bluffs. In addition to landscaping and tree work, Jeff had a calling to be on the water. He was a commercial fisherman, scalloping and lobstering, working for himself or as crew for others if something good came along. During the late ’70s and early ’80s, Jeff crewed for Capt. Roy Scheffer on the sword fishing boat Tiki 12. Jeff spoke fondly of those days fishing on the Grand Banks, traveling south in the winter to fish, and eventually out to Hawaii in ’83’ and ’84 on the Tucana. Jeff was first mate for Capt. Scheffer at that time. Jeff loved Hawaii, and continued to swordfish there after Capt. Roy came back to M.V. >click to read< 10:01
Cheers! Local fishing nonprofit receives $50,000 donation
Tito’s Handmade Vodka partnered with the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust (MVFPT) to fund a new gin boom, a type of hydraulic crane that helps unload heavy catches from fishing vessels. According to Tito’s, the boom will help approximately 25 to 30 commercial fishing businesses, mainly on the Island. But they say it has the potential to help upwards of 100. The boom unveiled in Menemsha during a ceremony last week. MVFPT executive director Shelley Edmundson said that gin booms are critical to the fishing industry. >click to read< 07:52
Banner Bay Scallop Year Not All Good News for Fishermen
It has been a bountiful season for the Vineyard’s bay scallop fishery, one of the last places left where fishermen are still able to pull in semi-consistent harvests. But scallopers have struggled to take advantage of the strong season because the spike in supply stressed a distribution network atrophied from years of uncertainty. “The market just closed down, three out of the four main buyers in Edgartown just totally shut down,” said Arno Ewing, who works on John Conlon’s Sengekontacket-based scalloping boat. “I don’t think I’ve seen prices this low in five years.” While earlier in the season scallopers could count on getting $27 per pound for their catch, fishermen on-Island are now only getting around $15. The situation was even more dire last month, when fishermen were hard-pressed to find any buyer at all, said Net Result fish market manager Mike Holtham, who sells scallops locally and to regional distributors. >click to read< 08:03
Generosity Overflows at Fluke for Luke Tournament
Since 2017, the Fluke for Luke fishing tournament has raised money for the college education of Jacob and Sam Gurney, the sons of Luke Gurney, an Island fisherman who died in a fishing accident in 2016. This year, these funds will be put to use when Jacob heads off to the University of Rhode Island in the fall to study marine biology. Luke’s wife Robyn said Jacob wants to use his education to carry on his father’s legacy. >click to read<,To read more about Luke, and the past tournaments, >click here< 21:37
A whelk fishing vessel hit a bell buoy off the Vineyard
The vessel was on autopilot when the incident occurred, according to the vessel’s master Michael Briggs. Briggs said he was at the stern of his boat when it hit the buoy. The boat, which has no name across the transom, is up on jacks in Vineyard Haven. A section of the bow has been smashed, leaving a green-smudged hole. Briggs said the boat, a 35-footer, dates from the mid 1970s and is wooden with a fiberglass skin. He said his bilges couldn’t keep up with the incoming water after the buoy strike and he had to radio for help. Eventually he said he jammed a t-shirt into the hole to staunch the inflow. photos, >click to read< 15:17
Retired Lobsterman Dennis Winthrop Norton of Martha’s Vineyard has passed away
Dennis was born on Oct. 16, 1945, in Vineyard Haven, and grew up in a bygone era of simple Island life. He was the son of Mildred Harriett Legg and Winthrop Mayhew Norton, A typical Island guy, Dennis was drawn to the water. He was a lobsterman, first out of a Novi skiff, then upgraded to the lobster boat Sea Foam out of Menemsha. In 1995, he purchased a new lobster boat, the Linda D. Normally not seeking the limelight, both he and Linda had a grand christening that summer during a spectacular Menemsha sunset, which was enjoyed by all attendees. The term “gentle giant” comes to mind for many islanders. He was just a soft-spoken, kindhearted man. >click to read< 09:10
My! How things have changed! Will there be a Flotilla to greet Joe Biden at the CG Graduation this year?
A Statement by Donald J. Trump on Vineyard Wind. Congratulations to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts for the privilege they will have in looking at massive windmills that have been approved by the Biden Administration and are being built, in China of course, as part of an extraordinarily large wind farm. Wind is an incredibly expensive form of energy that kills birds, affects the sea, ruins the landscape, and creates disasters for navigation. Liberals love it, but they can’t explain why. In any 
event, Martha’s Vineyard, an absolutely wonderful place, will never be the same. Good Luck! >click to read< It’s On!! The Make Commercial Fishing Great Again Flotilla 2017 Remember? >click to read< Looking back at Flotilla 2017, When there was, well, some kind of unity. Great photos that represent the end of an era. >click for photos< 07:30
Massachusetts Lobstermen fear end of their livelihood
Dan Pronk is worried a new set of proposed NOAA and NMFS restrictions aimed at saving the North Atlantic right whale could be the nail in the coffin for the lobstering industry on Nantucket. “We’ve got five years left of lobstering down here,” said Pronk, the only commercial lobsterman on Nantucket, and one of only a handful of lobstermen around the region with traps south of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. “It’s career ending if they get their way. We’re bending over backwards to appease these people. >click to read< 13:28
Menemsha Fish House Closes Up Shop
Menemsha Fish House, one of the Island’s largest wholesale seafood distributors has been shut down by its parent company, the owners confirmed Monday, as the pandemic continues to churn up rough waters for Vineyard fishermen and decimate the region’s seafood industry. But with the season ending, former operator Peter Lambos and Red’s Best owner Jared Auerbach said the economics of the wholesale market became impossible, forcing Red’s Best to officially close the business at the beginning of October. >click to read< 13:00
It’s the 100th anniversary! Let’s raise a glass to Prohibition
On a foggy evening on April 23, 1927, the fishing schooner Etta M. Burns was sailing back to New Bedford when the helmsman fell asleep and the boat washed up on the rocks off Squibnocket Beach in Chilmark. As the surf battered the ship, bottles of liquor were released from the ruptured hull and washed up on shore.,, the bottles that washed ashore were marked Old Mac Scotch Whisky, but they had come not from Scotland but from a 
rusty steamer anchored 30 miles off Montauk. They were all totally rotgut. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 18th Amendment, a constitutional ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages that can be seen as the very definition of unintended consequences. Rather than eliminating liquor, this act did more to instill a culture of drinking in a thirsty nation than 100,000 happy hours. >click to read< 10:43
Flounder, fluke, and flying by the seat of your pants – Bob Mone’s life as a fish broker.
The origins of Vineyard Co-op go back to a guy named Steve Boggess, who around 1970 ran Boggess Seafood out of Woods Hole on the pier over where the ferry shuttles back and forth to Naushon. Trip Barnes, who did trucking for Boggess, described him as “a college guy, kind of a yuppie. But he had a mind like a steel trap.” But the Steamship Authority, which owned the dock where Boggess’s office was located, put the squeeze on Boggess and forced him to leave. So Ralph Packer agreed to build a dock next to his gas tanks on Vineyard Haven harbor and Boggess moved his business to the Vineyard. Around 1975 Mone answered an ad looking for a manager at Boggess Seafood. At the time he was driving a milk truck on the Island and the only thing he knew about fish was that you buy them at a fish market. photo gallery, >click to read< 10:59
Ahoy! Boat accident on State Road
A boat landed on State Road late Friday morning. Mariner Jason Gale told The Times he was hauling an old bay scallop boat, the Double Digit, when someone cut him off, and he was forced to lock up his brakes. Gale said the boat hurtled partway off the trailer it was on, and when he turned into the parking lot of SBS, it fell completely off onto the road. Gale asked SBS owner Liz Packer for a helping hand. 3 photos, >click to read< 07:56
Sea-Level Rise? Obama Finalizes Purchase Of $11.75M Shoreline Mansion
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have purchased a nearly 7,000-square-foot home on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts for $11.75 million, according to a report.The purchase price was recorded Wednesday with the local Registry of Deeds, the Vineyard Gazette reported.The Obamas paid about half the original asking price for the property when it first became available in 2015, >click to read< 12:13
Bay Scallop Season Begins With Bumper Crop in Lagoon Pond
Bay scallop season has arrived, and while most of the Island is reporting an average or down year on the ponds, there is cautious excitement in Tisbury, where fishermen are pulling up a bumper crop of scallops in the Lagoon Pond. Last year, Tisbury harvested just 14 bushels of scallops before shellfish constable Danielle Ewart closed the Lagoon. One year later, when the Lagoon opened to recreational fishermen on a beautiful morning this past Saturday, scallopers brought in approximately three times that amount in a single day. Photo’s, >click to read< 11:28
Sea Level Rise? President Obama Just Bought Beachside Property on Martha’s Vineyard
President and Michelle Obama join the growing list of climate activists who want to enjoy a little beachside luxury before the carbon demon swallows all the coastlines. Headline: Barack and Michelle Obama are buying a $15M estate in Martha’s Vineyard.,,, I’m sure we all wish the Obamas well in their new home, but I can’t help thinking this purchase of a low lying seaside property somewhat contradicts previous statements by President Obama about the urgent need to address sea level rise. by Eric Worrall >click to read< 14:03
Fishermen Are At Heart of Delay in Vineyard Wind Project
The fishermen’s breakthrough with the National Marine Fisheries Service mirrors their breakthrough last month with the Edgartown Conservation Commission, which voted 5-1 on June 27 to reject a permit for Vineyard Wind to lay cable on the ocean floor about a mile east of Martha’s Vineyard’s eastern shore. That meeting was not audiotaped or videotaped, according to a town official, but reports say that fishermen raised concerns that electromagnetic radiation from the cable may disrupt the ability of fish to communicate with each other, and therefore decrease the number of fish. Fishermen were also concerned the laying of the cable could itself damage the fishery. >click to read<12:08
The Island celebrates the Third Annual Fluke for Luke fishing tournament this weekend
The tournament commemorates the life of Luke Gurney, a husband, father and commercial fisherman who died in a fishing accident in June of 2016. In addition to celebrating his life and his love for fishing, proceeds of the event will go towards the college fund for his two sons, who currently attend the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. The tournament starts at sunrise on Saturday, >click to read< 16:30
Fishermen air concerns about Vineyard Wind
Looking to create a sea change in energy production in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker signed “An Act to Promote Energy Diversity” with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2016. A key provision of the legislation mandated that utilities solicit long-term contracts with offshore wind farm developers, with the goal of adding 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2027. Fast-forward to Tuesday night, at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, where federal and state officials, along with representatives from Vineyard Wind, gathered for a “scoping session” to hear how Islanders feel about having the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the United States – 106 turbines, 700 feet tall, spaced about a mile apart, covering 167,000 acres>click to read<15:47
Fishing Events Benefits Family of Luke Gurney
Last June, the Island lost Luke Gurney in a commercial fishing accident. This year the Fluke for Luke fishing tournament will celebrate his love of fishing and raise funds for his two sons college education. In addition to the fishing contest, the event will include a silent auction and raffle. The tournament will take place on Saturday and Sunday, July 8 and 9. Fluke and black sea bass will be eligible species. An awards ceremony and silent auction will be held on Sunday July 9, starting at 5 p.m. at the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs. The event is being organized by a group of Lukes friends, who also would like to recognize Peter Hermann and the VFW in Oak Bluffs for helping pass the torch after running the annual summer fluke tournament for many years. Link For more information, please visit the Fluke for Luke Facebook page. 15:17
Video: Coast Guard responds to fishing vessel’s may day call near Martha’s Vineyard
Coast Guard crews escorted a disabled 47-foot fishing vessel to safety Monday evening into Tuesday morning from 30 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. The fishing vessel Pilgrim became disabled after its mast broke and was left hanging over the side. Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Southeastern New England were notified Monday at around 4:30 p.m. by Pilgrim’s captain via marine radio of the situation. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod launched and was able to locate the vessel based off Pilgrim’s may day call. After locating Pilgrim, the helicopter crew remained on scene until Coast Guard Cutter Albacore arrived to take over. The Albacore stayed with Pilgrim until Pilgrim’s sister ship, Shamrock, arrived Tuesday morning and was able to help the Pilgrim crew make repairs at sea. Watch video here 16:54
The Menemsha Fish House. What’s going on in there?!!
Alec Gale is well-known in the world of Martha’s Vineyard commercial fishing. The Island native started a business, the Menemsha Fish House, in 2006 with the goal of providing fresh fish to local buyers, with extra product being shipped to the mainland. A lot has happened along the way; you might say the fates have been kind. Also kind has been the town of Menemsha, which has supported his efforts in various ways. A decade of long hours and hard work paved the way. Where he once had a crew of four working just the summer months, Alec now has 12 people working year-round. He also has two very sharp guys named Mike who oversee the business end of things. Experience has brought insights and new ideas. Necessity has brought inventive — even funky — gadgetry with which to process thousands of pounds of fish every day. A generous spirit, considerable knowledge, and an unflinching sense of fairness and trust have brought 300 local fishermen as providers as well as countless loyal customers from Aquinnah to Edgartown. Read the story here 17:05
