COWRIE has funded a new project to investigate options to mitigate the potential impact of offshore windfarms on commercial fishing activities. The work is being carried out by Ichthys Marine Ecological Consulting Ltd, in collaboration with an expert advisory panel that includes representatives from the commercial fishing industry and fisheries management bodies.

Dr. Rob Blyth-Skyrme, Director of Ichthys Marine said “The aim of the work is to identify generic options for mitigation that can be used to help promote discussions between commercial fishing representatives and offshore windfarm developers when the development of a windfarm is likely to impact a fishing community.”

For this project, mitigation is being taken to mean ’measures that limit the adverse effects, or enhance the positive effects, of offshore windfarms on the commercial fishing industry’. A range of potential mitigation options will be assessed for their suitability, such as lobster enhancement programmes, creating optimal reef habitat for target species using turbine or cable rock armouring, and reducing the costs of fishing through modern re-engining programmes.

At present, the work is at a very early stage, and background data are being collected on the environment and fishing activities found in existing and new offshore windfarm development regions- the Greater Thames, Greater Wash, eastern Irish Sea, Scottish waters, Bristol Channel and English south coast. These data will form the basis for identifying mitigation options that are both viable for industry and environmentally feasible.

The project is currently seeking ideas for mitigation from the fishing and offshore windfarm industries, and a short questionnaire has been produced. Ideas for mitigation will be reviewed by the expert advisory panel, before a draft report is published for wider comment early next year. Further details on the project, together with the mitigation options questionnaire, can be found at http://www.offshorewindfarms.co.uk.

To download the questionnaire click here
To download a project brief click here