Offshore wind developers urged to protect local fishing industry
Offshore windfarm developers are being urged to spend some of their billion pound-plus development resources on protecting Shetland’s fishing industry.
Ocean Winds, Mainstream Renewables and ESB Asset Development between them plan to spend more than £1 billion on three government-approved developments east of Shetland.
Prior to a visit to the isles by the three companies tomorrow, Shetland Fishermen’s Association is calling for them to make a series of commitments to ensure that one of the isles’ most vital industries is not crowded out of important fishing grounds.
The Offshore Wind Developer Principles, drawn up by the association in conjunction with Shetland Islands Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and companies Malakoff, Ocean Kinetics, LEF and Voar Energy, ask that developers commit to:
- Thorough scientific research to assess likely impacts on fish and shellfish stocks and spawning/nursery grounds
- Independent scientific monitoring of development sites and associated infrastructure
- Co-operate to ensure that cables are routed into shared and buried cable corridors
- Prior consultation on offshore mooring system and turbine micro-siting that mitigate the spatial impact on fishing opportunities
- Liaise with the fishing fleet and other marine users to create passage corridors that allow for safe and timely transit between fishing grounds and harbours/markets
- Remove all development infrastructure and return seabed to natural fishable state when developments are concluded
- Make disturbance payments during construction and compensation payments for the loss of fishing access and income to the fleet
- The use of local fishing boats for guard vessel duty as part of site security arrangements during construction and operation.
SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson said: “Offshore windfarm developers have vast resources at their disposal to develop these sites, which cumulatively and in conjuction with other spatial pressures pose a grave risk to the future of the fishing industry.
“Given the importance of the industry to Shetland, they have an obligation to commit to these principles.
“This is a fishing community, and we want to work with developers to create a win-win situation, low carbon food as well as low carbon power, with all the economic benefits that both will bring to the isles.”