Southern NJ Offshore Wind Farm Webinar 1/13/21

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by tautog

The structure will attract fish but it has been indicated that fishermen won't be allowed anywhere near them off NJ. If this is accurate, I would be a definite no on the wind farms.

If thats correct, then yes I have a major problem with that, and agree with all the naysayers,,, The ones in Rhode Island are fished regularly, by charters as well as private boats,AND commercial lobstermen I might add...I mean right on YT, there are videos of boats drifting right against the foundations catching fish and no one bothering them.. Why would NJ be any different?...bob

[Jigman13]

The ones off block are covered in fish and very much fishable. You dont need to be right on the foundations either. A mile away shoals of sea bass and porgies gather. Cod and ling and tog too.

[Foul Hook]

Originally Posted by tautog

The structure will attract fish but it has been indicated that fishermen won't be allowed anywhere near them off NJ. If this is accurate, I would be a definite no on the wind farms.

I wonder how they would stop it?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Like Dales said, like it or not it's a done deal... Only thing we can do is persuade them not to put them in places that would disturb fishing grounds and make sure we can fish them without restrictions once they're built.

If you have opinions on either then attend one of the webinars and voice them. Voicing them here has limited effect.

[tautog]

Originally Posted by Foul Hook

I wonder how they would stop it?

I have heard they said it is a terrorism risk even though you can tie right up to highly flammable oil rigs in Louisiana. I would imagine the Coasties, Marine Police or private security.

[Foul Hook]

Originally Posted by tautog

I have heard they said it is a terrorism risk even though you can tie right up to highly flammable oil rigs in Louisiana. I would imagine the Coasties, Marine Police or private security.

I could understand private security but the coast guard or police I think would be an argument for tax payers footing the bill on privately held property per say. Either way I hope we will be able to fish around it/ them.

[Gerry Zagorski]

If you have a strong opinion and want to take the time to voice it and get involved, now is the time.

Call for Advisors for Offshore Wind Committee
The NJ Marine Fisheries Council (MFC) is currently seeking advisors for its new Offshore Wind Committee. Anyone interested in serving as an advisor should submit an application.

For more information on the MFC and its committees and advisors, including how to get involved, visit here https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ma...ce=govdelivery or call 609-748-2020.

[tautog]

Originally Posted by Foul Hook

I could understand private security but the coast guard or police I think would be an argument for tax payers footing the bill on privately held property per say. Either way I hope we will be able to fish around it/ them.

Police certainly have no issues enforcing trespassing for freshwater fishing or hunting.

The following excerpt is from an article written a year and a half ago regarding an 84-wind turbine farm planned in 2019 south of Martha's Vineyard.

In February, after a months-long dispute with Rhode Island fishermen who complained that the layout of its wind farm — namely the tight spacing of the turbines — would effectively block access to fishing grounds rich in squid, lobster and Jonah crab, Vineyard Wind agreed to a compensation package worth $16.7 million.

My opinion is fishing access on the farms already in place or in the process of being constructed have not been restricted YET because if the precedent of closure to commercial and or recreational fishing already existed, lawsuits for prospective sites to be developed as we're facing in New Jersey would be staggering and the cost to investors associated with these projects would be exponentially greater than the billions already being spent possibly to the point of making them financially not attractive or possible to investors.

We're still in the early stages of development of this alternate energy source. Further into their foothold along the eastern seaboard, who honestly believes fishing and access rights will in any way shape or form take precedence or even factor into decisions involving national security and energy supply. If anyone believes recreational or commercial fishing interests will outweigh Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, possibly even Department of Defense and Investors interests and concerns, I think you'll unfortunately be very disappointed with where this all ends up.

Wind farms are only effective where there are sufficient sustainable winds to operate them. Where ever that is, that's where they'll end up and if you think where a clam, lobster, mussel, or species of fish resides is truly on anyone's radar screen regarding site locations, you're not looking at this from the perspective of government, regulators and most importantly the conglomerates making the investment.

I'm not sure public commentary from the recreational fishing sector over the last two decades has ever factored in to a single regulatory change in fisheries management in this state. What would make anyone believe our chances of being heard and or opinions considered would result in a different fate with an initiative of this magnitude and what's at stake switching from our current dependency on fossil fuels to green energy sources.

As others have mentioned, the decisions have been made, locations have been chosen and fishing access will not be the determinant factor or any factor of where these farms will be constructed. Once constructed, it won't take an event like 911 to restrict access, just the appearance of the risk of a similar event or threat. I'd bet DoE, DoHS, DOD, the Investors themselves along with the politicians involved already have that plan worked out. It's called risk management and you can rest assured those conversations have already been discussed and decided on well in advance of billions if not hundreds of billions of dollars being committed to these projects.

Sorry to be the wet blanket here but it's what happens when you go up against business conglomerates and government. Just the way the world works.