Compensation for spatial squeeze has ’no flesh on the rigs’
While the potential for a scheme compensating the fisheries sector for loss of grounds to offshore wind developments holds out the promise of protection from or compensation for lost access to long-established fishing grounds, as yet the Scottish Parliament’s vote backing plans for a potential scheme has no flesh on the rigs.
It seems likely the road to finalising a scheme that’s acceptable to Scotland’s fishing sector will be a long and rocky one.
Given that the promise of vast untapped sources of energy available from offshore wind has not so far come to fruition, with many companies who were initially keen on offshore wind development now revising their investment plans downwards, surely the needs of a long-established sector that supports coastal communities should take absolute precedence over a precarious nascent industry that gives every indication that it will be short term?
Compensation to present operators in the fisheries sector is unlikely to compensate future operators, and is therefore likely to reduce the future fleet, with clear negative consequences for coastal communities.
It appears sensible to adopt the approach that 65% of operators in the fisheries sector are in favour of; namely a pause in offshore wind development in areas where there are potential negative impacts on the fisheries sector.
Once the spawning, nursery and catching grounds, along with the infrastructure, are gone, they’re probably gone for good.
That would be a disastrous loss, particularly when there are long-term sustainable alternatives to offshore wind energy available here and now.
Leslie Sinclair
Kirkwall
Orkney
Fishing compensation for wind farm losses backed by Holyrood
