Massachusetts is particularly concerned about potential impacts 

 of offshore oil developments on its fishing industry. In 1966, New 

 Bedford fishermen complained of fish kills as a result of seismic ex- 

 ploration. In recent years, gear losses due to exploratory activities 

 have caused problems for individual fishermen. When the SEDCO-J rig 

 was towed out to drill the COST well, it accidently destroyed lobster 

 gear. The state has established a 200-mile work-group, in which members 

 of the fishing and processing industries work with the state toward 

 solving fishing problems in the North Atlantic. One of the six sub- 

 committees established deals with future conflicts of petroleum develop- 

 ment on Georges Bank. State officials from the energy policy office and 

 other agencies serve as staff to the committee, which is developing 

 goals for the state on fishing and offshore oil. 



Many coastal communities in Massachusetts are promoting their port 

 facilities for use in oil development, and several have sent delegations 

 to various oil-related conferences in the hopes of attracting onshore 

 support industries which would stimulate their economy. Other areas, 

 such as Nantucket and southern Cape Cod communities, have expressed 

 strong concern in regional hearings about the possible damage resulting 

 from drilling and production. The state reflected this concern in its 

 66-nautical-mile oil-spill hazard line, drawn from the Nantucket and 

 Cape Cod coasts, within which it had asked for the withdrawal of seven 

 tracts and requested oil spill trajectory studies be conducted on 17 

 others. This decision was based on the information published in the 

 initial Georges Bank petroleum study by MIT. 



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