“Maine’s fishermen deserve to know that waters critical to our historic, high-value industry are protected—not by promises, but by federal law,” Golden said. “Protecting the bountiful natural resources of LMA1 from development will preserve our way of life, local economies, and communities. President Trump’s recent Executive Order provides some measure of reprieve, but we need a more permanent solution.”
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting all leasing of federal waters for offshore wind development—a reversal of former President Joseph Biden’s pro-offshore wind regime. The Northern Heritage Fisheries Protection Act of 2025 would take protections for Maine’s fisheries out of the discretion of the chief executive and codify it into law.
“Offshore wind projects are a direct threat to our fisheries, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities,” said Van Drew, the lead Republican co-sponsor of the bill. “They are expensive, destructive, and outright unwanted. I am proud to be a co-lead on this bill to permanently protect these vital waters and ensure they are never sacrificed to these reckless developments.”
Nearly 83 percent of lobster harvested in the Gulf of Maine is hauled by Maine lobstermen. In addition to lobster, LMA1 is a critical and highly productive fishing ground for halibut, tuna, flounder, redfish, black sea bass, monkfish, mackerel, rock and sand grab, mussels, hardshell and softshell clams, oysters, scallops, conchs, and squid.
While the Maine 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 that could be threatened by the development of windfarms in LMA1.
“Since its inception, NEFSA has maintained steadfast opposition to offshore wind development, citing significant concerns regarding its potential adverse impacts on the ocean ecosystem,” said Dustin Delano, a former lobsterman and chief executive officer of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). “We commend Representative Golden for his efforts to reintroduce a ban on offshore wind projects in Lobster Management Area 1. Initiatives that prioritize the protection of fishermen and the preservation of the fishing grounds that sustain them are deeply appreciated.”
“I am confident in the overwhelming coastal community support for Congressman Golden’s bill to protect Lobster Management Area 1 from the destructive effects of offshore wind development,” said Jason Joyce of Swan’s Island, lobsterman, and member of the Lobster Advisory Council.
“Offshore wind does not belong in the middle of our fishing grounds,” said Virginia Olsen of Deer Isle, lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union. “The Maine Lobstering Union is grateful that Congressman Golden has our back.”
“The Maine Lobstermen’s Association applauds Congressman Golden for his leadership in reintroducing legislation aimed at protecting Maine’s lobster fishery from the threat of large-scale offshore wind farms,” said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association. “For more than a century, these waters have supported thousands of Maine families, and the industrialization of these waters would disrupt vital fishing grounds and harm the generations-old tradition of lobstering. Congressional action is crucial to ensure that the fragile Gulf of Maine ecosystem and its wildlife, habitat, and commercial fisheries are protected.”
Since his election to Congress, Golden has been a tireless advocate for the Maine lobster fishery.
Golden worked alongside the Maine Delegation and Governor to secure millions of dollars to help lobstermen comply with costly new gear regulations associated with regulators’ efforts to protect right whales and successfully secure a six-year regulatory pause on new regulations in 2022.
Last year, Golden passed a bill to expand mental health and safety resources for fishermen and led the charge to oppose an increase in the minimum allowable harvest size for lobster in the Gulf of Maine, which would have reduced landings and put Mainers at a competitive disadvantage with Canadian fishermen.
Text of the legislation is available here.