Mitchell: New York Wind Farms Could Harm Fishing Industry [VIDEO]

NEW BEDFORD — The city is continuing progress in developing the offshore wind industry without adversely affecting the commercial fishing industry. Mayor Jon Mitchell says we'll see more activity in the area within the coming months.

However, in his weekly appearance on WBSM, the mayor voiced his concerns with proposed offshore wind farms that are proposed in the waters off New York and New Jersey

Mayor Mitchell said that those waters are much more heavily fished by New Bedford-based vessels than the wind farm areas off Massachusetts. He said that if those proposed wind developments become a reality, it will have a very adverse effect on the local fishing industry.

The mayor says he has written the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to argue that those proposed areas off New York and New Jersey need to be cut back. Mitchell said the city will be very "assertive" in this process. He added that when the first offshore area near New York was being leased to developers, the City of New Bedford sued the Federal Government to stop the leasing due to the number of scallops in that area. That suit is being prosecuted.