Debate: The impact on the fishing sector of offshore windfarms and other renewable energy systems
Date: MONDAY, 5 JULY 2021
Speaker: Dubravka Šuica
Language: EN

This report puts a much—needed emphasis on environmental considerations, the rational use of space and the involvement of all sea users. This is very much in the spirit of our new approach to a sustainable blue economy. Under the European Green Deal, the European Union is committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050 in order to mitigate the effects of climate change and related biodiversity loss.  Sustainably-sourced and circular renewable energy is essential to reaching this target. Offshore wind energy needs to be developed in line with the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the circular economy action plan. The Maritime Spatial Planning Directive clearly stipulates having, in the early stages, both a dialogue and cooperation with the fishing community and all relevant stakeholders. The main goal of maritime special planning is to ensure access to maritime space for the different sea users and to facilitate the coexistence and synergies between those users, while safeguarding the marine environment.  Therefore, one of the actions under the new sustainable blue economy approach will be the creation of a blue forum for all users of the sea. In the blue forum, a dialogue will be coordinated between stakeholders from the fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism and energy sectors, as well as scientists. The aim is to develop synergies and reconcile competing uses of the sea. The Commission has carried out and financed several projects looking at a combination of fisheries or aquaculture on the one side, wind farms on the other side, and the relevant impacts. Work in this area must continue. The Commission is encouraging this, notably via the blue forum and the Horizon Europe mission on ocean waters, coastal and inland waters.  In addition, best practices in terms of minimising disruption and mitigating damage to ecosystems will be shared and showcased by a new community of practices that will be launched by the end of this year. By March 2022, the Commission will also submit the report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of maritime special planning interactions between sectors and stakeholders. Consultation processes will be looked at carefully during the analysis of all available national maritime special plans.  Through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, we are supporting cooperation projects for maritime special planning in all European Union sea basins. By the end of 2020, we had already funded 13 such projects on maritime special planning for a total amount of more than EUR 25 million. This cooperation will be continued and increased in the coming year to tackle new challenges.  It is important to note that the maritime special planning process takes place in subsequent stages. Plans will be regularly updated to fit new realities and policy developments at a minimum of every ten years. All offshore renewable energy developments must fully comply with European Union environmental legislation, notably going through the environmental impact assessment before any project can begin. Together with your EU strategy on offshore renewable energy, in November 2020, the Commission adopted updated guidance on wind energy developments and European Union natural legislation. This guidance notably looks at the combination and integration of offshore wind farms within marine protected areas. Clearly, one does not exclude the other.  The end of life of wind turbines and decommissioning also need to be looked at in terms of environmental impact at sea and in terms of recycling. Therefore, the Commission will, in the coming year, carry out further studies on technology development in offshore energy. These studies will also look at how the related infrastructure can be embedded sustainably in the marine environment and socio—economic ecosystems. The European Union strategy on offshore renewable energy will boost emerging technologies that reduce the impact on fisheries, notably floating offshore wind, wave and tidal devices. To achieve this, we need to set clear, short and long—term targets for the ocean energy sector. Finally, I would like to underline that easy access to renewable energy produced at sea in the form of electricity and hydrogen will create opportunities for decarbonising other blue sectors, notably shipping, fisheries and aquaculture.  To end, offshore wind energy plays a key role in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal. This Commission is fully committed to ensuring that environmental, economic and social sustainability is achieved. We will therefore make sure that the fisheries and aquaculture sectors will be appropriately involved in all decision making in this context. Before any offshore wind farms see the light, all projects will undergo – as I have already said – the necessary impact assessment. I’m convinced that ultimately we will achieve a win-win situation for all stakeholders, including the fishing community.