Research led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory highlights the urgent need for standardised compensation and improved collaboration between energy companies and fishermen.
The study found that the majority of UK fishermen feel their livelihoods are being threatened by the rapid expansion of offshore wind farms (OWFs), with impacts felt across all vessel sizes and fleet sectors.
Key findings include:
- Fishermen are being adversely impacted by displacement from offshore wind farms
- Mobile and static gears are affected with small (<15m) vessels less resilient to impacts
- There is a lack of standardisation 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.
“Our survey revealed that fishermen across all fleet sectors are experiencing social, wellbeing, and economic impacts from offshore wind developments,” said Dr Claire Szostek, study lead and Senior Ecosystem Services Scientist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
“While a small minority identified potential benefits, most fishermen feel their fishing grounds and livelihoods are under threat. What’s particularly concerning is the lack of standardization in compensation payments made to those affected.”
The study highlights that despite UK law not explicitly excluding fishing from operational wind farms, practical co-existence remains disputed due to safety concerns over interactions between fishing vessels, gear, turbines, and subsea cables.
Furthermore, as Stephen Watson, co-author and researcher at PML, notes:
“The ecological impacts of offshore wind farms on commercial fish species and marine habitats are a significant concern for fishermen. While there are potential benefits like artificial reef effects, there are also risks from construction noise, electromagnetic fields, and changes to marine ecosystems that remain largely unquantified. These impacts add further strain to an already challenged fishing sector.”
The UK fishing industry, with 4,269 active vessels and employing over 6,800 fishermen in 2021, generated a turnover of £802 million with a profit of £222 million. Meanwhile, the UK offshore wind industry directly employed 17,000 people in 2023, with projections of over 88,500 jobs required by 2026. The study emphasizes that while offshore wind may exceed fisheries in monetary value, these figures do not account for the cultural heritage value of fisheries, which are vital to many coastal communities and important in fisheries policy development.