BOSTON – Developers of one of two liquefied natural gas terminals proposed offshore from Gloucester have agreed to pay $23.5 million in fishing and environmental impact compensation, according to a published report.

The deal, common on major infrastructure construction projects, was reached Friday between Texas-based Excelerate Energy and the state, giving it environmental approval from the state.

Excelerate proposes to build its Northeast Gateway terminal 13 miles off Gloucester.

Gov. Mitt Romney still must give final approval to the Excelerate Energy project and has until Dec. 26 to make a decision.

Observers expect a similar agreement to be reached on the Neptune project proposed about 10 miles off Gloucester by the company that owns the Distrigas LNG terminal in Everett.

That project is expected to get a final environmental decision from the state in about two weeks, and Romney’s final decision is due by Jan. 2.

Another proposal calls for building an LNG terminal on Boston Harbor’s Outer Brewster Island. Nine LNG projects are pending or proposed in New England, including at least two in eastern Maine.

The projects have gained the interest of public officials balancing energy needs and safety concerns about land-based terminals in populated areas.

Supporters of the offshore projects say they might eliminate the need for a Fall River terminal opposed by officials in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. But opponents say the projects, which involve underwater pipelines, could cause permanent environmental damage.

Excelerate had predicted just $2.5 million in damage to fishermen over the 25-year life of its project and minimal effect on marine life.

But after months of negotiations with state officials, the company agreed to pay $8 million to New England fishermen for the loss of fishing grounds.

The agreement also calls for Excelerate to pay about $7 million for the use of public waters, $4 million for impacts on marine habitats and resources that may be disturbed and $4 million to prevent harm to whales and other marine mammals, The Boston Globe reported.

“If you look at the balance between the need for reliable energy and minimizing the impacts on the environment, this is a good outcome,” said Environmental Affairs Secretary Robert W. Golledge Jr.

The fishermen’s compensation package includes a $6.3 million payment to help start a Gloucester nonprofit that would pay local fishermen who want to quit the business a fee to use their fishing permits and allotted fishing days.

The nonprofit would lease the permits to other fishermen. The rest of the $8 million would compensate commercial lobstermen and be administered by the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association.

“We’d prefer they take their money and go away,” said Bernie Feeney, president of the lobstermen’s association, who told the Globe he learned of the deal only Friday.

He said a recent gas line built under Massachusetts Bay caused permanent changes to the sea floor that disturbed lobsters.

“We lost areas forever there, and we’re worried about it happening again,” he said.