A new study, led by researchers at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), alongside colleagues at the University of Aberdeen, has found that the majority of U.K. fishermen feel their livelihoods are being threatened by the rapid expansion of offshore wind farms, with impacts felt across all vessel sizes and fleet sectors.

Published in the journal Energy Policy, the research reveals that while the U.K. leads globally in offshore wind energy production–providing 45 percent of European capacity and 24 percent of global capacity–this growth creates significant spatial conflicts with the commercial fishing industry as both sectors compete for limited marine space.

Key findings:

• Fishermen are being adversely impacted by displacement from offshore wind farms.
• Mobile and static gears are affected with small (below 15 m) vessels less resilient to impacts.
• There is a lack of standardization in compensation payments made to fishermen.
• Fishermen are concerned about ecological impacts on target species and habitats.
• Best practice guidelines for industry need to be embedded in legal frameworks.

The research supports policy recommendations aimed at improving outcomes for the coexistence of offshore wind energy and commercial fishing, which could also serve as a model for other nations developing offshore wind energy.

Learn more here.