February 24, 2019
Rhode Island

Rhode Island Fisheries Advisory Board votes to move forward with Vineyard Wind Project

NBC 10 NEWS | Saturday, February 23rd 2019 | turnto10.com

The Rhode Island Fisheries Advisory Board voted Saturday afternoon to approve a nearly $17 million funding proposal that paves the way for the massive Vineyard Wind Project to move forward.

The proposal will allow $12.5 million to go towards “safe and effective fishing” in and around the 84 wind turbines that are proposed to be constructed offshore from Martha’s Vineyard. Another $4.2 million will compensate for any direct impacts to the Rhode Island fishing industry.

Opponents of the project say, if the wind farm is built, it will decimate the Rhode Island fishing industry that contributes $400 million to the local economy every year because that area is a prime fishing ground for squid.

Rich Fuka, the president of the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance, sent NBC 10 News a statement reacting to Saturday’s vote saying, “Today’s FAB/fisheries advisory board vote to accept Vineyard Wind’s mitigation proposal was met with once again terms set on no public comment and one-sided stories on the FAB’s history over the years of their hard work and dedication.”

“Today, the calamari was grossly and unjustly misrepresented by Grover Fugate and his hand-picked fisheries board,” Fuka added.

The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council Board will vote on whether or not to give Vineyard Wind the ‘go ahead’ on the project Tuesday night.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/02/24/rhode-island-fisheries-advisory-board-votes-to-move-forward-with-vineyard-wind-project/