"People who are mostly involved in fishing, generally speaking, are not for Cape Wind, although that's not to say that they're not for wind turbine power or alternative sources of power," said Mary Boyd, who owns a charter fishing company in Martha's Vineyard with her husband. "I think that your fishermen are some of your staunchest naturalists, because they understand it, and they live it every day. They know what they need. They're not the ones who are out there saying, 'Let's go mess up our natural resources.' At the same time, they're also looking at this and saying, 'We know the importance of the sound as it pertains to our fishing industry.'"
Some local fishing groups, along with Parker's organization, are concerned that the construction of the turbines could disturb the delicate marine ecosystem that serves as a habitat for bluefish, tuna, and striped bass, among other species popular among recreational fisherman. Commercial fishermen, in particular, are worried that the construction along the ocean floor could pose a threat to the species that feed along the seabed, such as cod, haddock and flounder.
Concern for the revenue of local fishermen has been a central rallying cry of opposition groups, many of which point to a study released by the Massachusetts Fisherman's Partnership, which estimates that Cape Wind's cost to commercial fishing in the region could reach anywhere from $8 million to $13 million over the next 25 years.
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