New England Wind Project Enhances Community Engagement with Fisheries

The New England Wind project, developed by Avangrid, has implemented a comprehensive community engagement strategy to address concerns from the fishing industry regarding offshore wind development. Recognizing the potential impacts on commercial and recreational fishing activities, Avangrid has established a Fisheries Communication Plan that includes hiring Fisheries Liaisons and Representatives from the local fishing community. These representatives serve as intermediaries, conveying fishermen’s concerns to the project team and disseminating project updates to the fishing community. Regular “Port Hours” events are held in coastal towns such as New Bedford, MA, and Narragansett, RI, providing opportunities for direct dialogue between fishermen and project representatives.