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HR 674119th CongressIn Committee
Northeast Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025
Introduced: Jan 23, 2025
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Northeast Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025 would permanently block commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA1) in the Gulf of Maine. It asserts the economic and cultural importance of the New England fishing industry and specifically protects LMA1 from energy leasing and development, overriding the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act's lease authority in that area. The bill also requires a Comptroller General study within 120 days to evaluate how current environmental review processes are handling offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine, focusing on impacts to marine life, fisheries, air quality, cultural resources, and stakeholder consultation.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition in LMA1: No lease, license, permit, or other authorization for commercial offshore wind energy development may be issued in Lobster Management Area 1, notwithstanding the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
- 2Findings underscoring importance: The bill emphasizes the long-standing history and economic significance of New England fisheries, particularly the lobster fishery, and notes LMA1 as a productive ground for multiple species and fisheries-related activity.
- 3Environmental review study: Within 120 days of enactment, the Comptroller General must study the sufficiency of environmental review processes used by NMFS, BOEM, and other federal agencies for Gulf of Maine offshore wind projects, including stakeholder consultation and comment periods.
- 4Scope of study: The study must assess impacts on marine mammals (including whales), finfish, benthic resources, fisheries-dependent communities, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, cultural/historical/tribal resources, marine invertebrates, essential fish habitat, plankton, recreation/tourism, and related economic impacts.
- 5Definition of LMA1: The bill defines Lobster Management Area 1 using the EEZ Nearshore Management Area 1 defined in 50 CFR 697.18 (or its successor).
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: Commercial and recreational fishermen, seafood processors and related shoreside businesses, and coastal communities that rely on fishing in the Gulf of Maine, particularly those around LMA1.Secondary group/area affected: Offshore wind developers, energy project stakeholders, and environmental regulatory agencies (NMFS, BOEM) involved in siting and reviewing offshore wind projects; local governments and Tribal resources may also be impacted through regulatory clarity and consultation processes.Additional impacts: The bill could influence regional energy policy and coastal economy, potentially preserving fishing heritage and reducing conflicts between wind development and fisheries, while imposing a mandatory review of environmental processes that could inform future permitting practices in the Gulf of Maine.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 31, 2025