Advice and Recommendations

The advice from NWWAC and PelAC emphasizes the need for increased inclusion of fisheries in marine spatial planning and protected area designations to balance energy targets with food security and socio-economic benefits. It also calls for improved stakeholder engagement, better coordination among administrations, and thorough assessments of the impacts of offshore renewable energy developments on fisheries and the environment.

In 2020 the North Western Waters AC and the Pelagic AC embarked on developing advice to the European Commission on the impact of seismic and wind energy developments. The Advisory Councils are pleased to jointly submit this follow-up advice following the successful conclusion of their joint workshop held this year.

On both the European and the international level it is yet unclear to what extent (potential cumulative) effects of offshore wind energy developments on fishing areas, for example spawning grounds, nursery areas, or important habitats for fish stocks, are taken into account in a cross-border context, as policy, research and mitigation appear not to be streamlined.

We are at a time where renewable energy can help us to mitigate effects of climate change, however, this comes hand-in-hand with new ecological risks and pressures on already heavily environmentally impacted busy seas with other pressure factors taking place such as underwater noise.