ANOTHER STEP AHEAD FOR CAPE WIND

Lawsuit Dropped, Fishermen and Cape Wind Vow to Cooperate

Sara Brown, June 29, 2012 (Martha’s Vineyard Gazette)

“In a reversal this week, Vineyard fishermen dropped their lawsuit over the Cape Wind project, with Cape Wind in turn agreeing to support access and a new permit program for fishermen who make a living in the waters around Horseshoe Shoal…

“…[T]he fishermen’s association [will] instead work with Cape Wind…[I]nitial concerns that an exclusionary zone would be created around the turbines had been assuaged, with Cape Wind agreeing not to limit fishing access for the fishermen who harvest conch, scup and sea bass in the area…”

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“About 100 commercial fishermen, represented by the fishermen’s association…[have agreed] to support the Cape Wind project, as well as vibrant and sustainable local commercial fishing communities on Martha’s Vineyard…

“The settlement guarantees that there is no exclusionary zone…[and sets up] the newly-formed Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, which will buy fishing permits and lease them at affordable rates to Island fishermen…[It] will be operated through the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard. The amount of any monetary contributions from Cape Wind toward the permit bank was not disclosed…”

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