Marine / Government ‘recognises’ report’s findings on impact to fishing from offshore wind
Cabinet secretary Gillian Martin said the Scottish Government wants to secure a ‘prosperous future’ for crews while meeting net zero targets
THE SCOTTISH Government has responded to a recent report on the impact offshore wind development could have on the local fishing fleet – saying it aims to “secure a prosperous future” for crews while meeting net zero targets.
Cabinet secretary for climate action and energy Gillian Martin said the government recognises the report’s findings on increasing pressure on Shetland’s marine space, and will use it “to inform our fisheries co-existence work”.
But Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) executive officer Daniel Lawson said crews feel like they have been “consistently overlooked and ignored” in the development of offshore wind.
Two offshore wind farms are proposed to the east of Shetland, Stoura and Arven, which are still in their early planning phase.
Offering a potential combined generating capacity of 2.8GW, lease options were given out through the government-backed ScotWind process.
But their location has caused significant concern among the local fishing fleet, leading to warnings about the “spatial squeeze” fishermen could face.
A report on the topic was recently published by the SFA which was created by consultancy firm Voar.
It concluded that the development of offshore wind farms in waters off Shetland must only proceed “in tandem with robust measures” to safeguard fishing livelihoods.
It said that “fishermen fear a patchwork of exclusion areas that collectively erode their accessible grounds and viability”.
Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart lodged a parliamentary question to the Scottish Government to ask for its response to the report.
Martin said in her answer: “The Scottish Government recognises the report’s findings on increasing pressure on Shetland’s marine space from energy developments and will use it to inform our fisheries co-existence work.
“We are committed to managing Scotland’s seas to ensure sustainable use of resources and to minimise impacts on existing users, including fishers.
“Shetland’s fishing fleet and the wider Scottish sector are vital to our economy and communities, and we aim to secure a prosperous future for them while meeting net zero targets.”
The Aberdeenshire East MSP said to achieve this, the government is updating a sectoral marine plan for offshore wind.
But as Shetland News reported recently, as part of a consultation on the updated plan the idea of up to 200MW worth of ‘test and demonstration’ offshore wind development in Shetland waters was floated.
Martin also said the government is developing a second national marine plan, and commissioning work on cumulative impacts.
“Fishing representatives are key stakeholders in these processes, and we will continue to engage with them through planning and consenting stages, alongside workstreams under the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council to support coexistence between offshore wind and fisheries,” she concluded.
Responding to Martin’s comments, Lawson said fishermen had been keen to present a “fair and fulsome” assessment of the true extent of energy developments planned around Shetland.
He said they wanted to touch on developments’ “contribution to the ongoing spatial squeeze of valuable fishing grounds, and make recommendations which would help ease this pressure”.
“Fishing crews do not feel like key stakeholders in this process, having been consistently overlooked and ignored,” Lawson added.
“Until we have stricter planning protections for fishing grounds, earlier consultation and meaningful compensation then the Scottish Government is risking an industry which it acknowledges is vital to our economy and communities.”
Meanwhile, local SNP candidate for the Scottish Parliament elections Hannah Mary Goodlad has described the Voar report as a “watershed moment”.
“It makes clear that coexistence is possible, but only if decisions on location, timing and scale are taken carefully, and with fishing interests genuinely at the table, not as an afterthought,” she said.
“Right now, many people are genuinely worried about the scale of offshore wind proposals, and I think they have every right to be.
“The number of leases has the potential to put real pressure on space at sea, and that requires proper scrutiny.
“That is why I’ve already had several detailed conversations with the SFA to properly understand their concerns.
“I’ve spent over a decade working in offshore wind, across the UK, the Baltic Sea and Asia. I know how this industry works, and I’ve seen examples elsewhere where early, meaningful engagement has led to solutions that the fishing industry can live with.
“I will always stand up for Shetland’s family-owned fleet. In my recent meeting with the first minister, I made it clear that offshore wind must never come at the expense of our fishing industry – coexistence must be the starting point, not the compromise.”
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