Pine State News

Congressman Jared Golden, representing Maine's 2nd District since 2019, has taken to social media to address concerns regarding the protection of critical fishing waters in Maine. Through a series of tweets, Golden outlines his efforts and legislative proposals aimed at preserving the state's historic fishing industry.

On January 23, 2025, Congressman Golden tweeted: "Maine’s fishermen deserve to know that waters critical to our historic, high-value industry are protected — not by promises, but by federal law. So I've introduced bipartisan legislation to ban offshore wind in Lobster Management Area 1." This initiative aims to ensure the protection of these waters through legal measures rather than mere assurances.

In a subsequent tweet on the same day, he elaborated on the need for permanent solutions: "Protecting the resources of LMA1 from development will preserve our way of life, local economies and communities. President Trump’s recent Executive Order provides some help, but we need a more permanent solution that keeps windfarms out — regardless of who's in the White House." Golden emphasizes the necessity for enduring protections beyond temporary executive orders.

Further detailing his stance on January 23, 2025, Golden pointed out existing state measures while highlighting ongoing threats: "While the Legislature has enacted a ban on offshore wind development in state-controlled waters, Mainers harvest more than 20 million pounds of lobster from federal waters each year — a haul threatened by the development of windfarms in LMA1." He underscores that despite state-level actions, federal waters remain vulnerable to potential developments that could impact local fisheries.