Offshore windfarms - monitoring impacts on the commercial fishing industry: good practice guidance

Appendix D Other Guidance

In addition to the Good Practice Guidance, other relevant guidance pertaining to commercial fisheries have been provided below in Table 7‑10.

Scottish Government (2015) National Marine Plan (NMP)

The NMP outlines the planning framework for the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 legislation. This plan details the objectives and policies for the protection and enhancement of marine ecosystems in addition to promoting marine industries such as commercial fisheries. This plan flags monitoring to be a crucial aspect within marine planning policies.

Scottish Government National Marine Plan 2 (not yet published)

In 2021, the review of the NMP (2015) concluded that, whilst the Plan remains effective, there have been several significant national and global developments, which impact the use and management of Scotland’s marine resources.

In the Programme for Government 2022-23, Scottish Ministers committed to begin updating the National Marine Plan to address the global climate and nature crises by managing the increased competition for space and resources in Scotland’s marine environment.

Scottish Government (2020a) Sectoral Marine Plan (SMP) for Offshore Wind Energy

The SMP for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) was established to identify sustainable options, known as Plan Options (POs) for the commercial scale development of offshore wind in Scotland. The SMP-OWE informed the ScotWind leasing round, managed by the Crown Estate Scotland. The PO areas were allocated taking into consideration how to minimise impacts to marine receptors and other marine users which use the Scottish marine spatial areas. The Sectoral Marine Planning process is an iterative process taking into account stakeholder feedback and new evidence. Commercial fisheries were a key stakeholder in the identification process due to the potential impacts associated with the development of renewable devices. Furthermore, the SMP-OWE (2020) details the sensitivities of the marine environment and the requirement for offshore windfarm developments to consider the potential impacts the development may cause to commercial fisheries within the EIA process.

Scottish Government Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (Revised) (not yet published, expected 2024)

Following the issuing of Option Agreements and Exclusivity Agreements for offshore wind projects by the Crown Estate Scotland through the ScotWind and Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds, the Scottish government is now updating the SMP-OWE (2020a) as part of its iterative plan review process to ensure the plan remains reflective of current scientific understanding and knowledge, as well as the wider regulatory and policy context. The updated SMP-OWE will cover both ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds and assess the impact of this proposed development.

Scottish Government (2023b) Developing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Maps for Fish and Shellfish Species in Scotland

The Scottish Government commissioned this report with the aim of developing the evidence base on EFH to inform future planning and project level assessments in Scottish waters, with consideration to providing outputs that can also assist with wider UK planning and project assessments.

Scottish Government (2022b) Assessing fisheries displacement by other licensed marine activities: good practice guidance – literature review

This document was commissioned by the Scottish Government as a good practice guide to support with assessing potential impacts which may occur from the displacement of commercial fishing activities. This has taken into consideration sources of displacement such as protected areas, and MRE, etc.

Scottish Government (2020d) Monitoring the Socio-economic Impacts of Marine Protected Areas: 2019 Report

This document highlights the potential economic and social effects which may result from developments associated with Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA). The assessment details the loss of fishing grounds rather than the displacement of fishing activity. The assessment concluded potential social impacts of increased costs due to longer steaming times and a rise in competition and conflict.

Scottish Government (2022d) Scottish Sea Fisheries 2022

The Scottish Government has detailed the fishing statistics of all registered commercial fishing vessels^[55]. This guidance is provided as raw data and a report providing insights into yearly trends, areas fished, species landed etc.

Scottish Government Science and research – Marine renewable energy (ScotMER) Evidence Maps

The ScotMER programme was created by Scottish Government with the following aims in relation to marine renewable developments;

• Identify and address evidence gaps
• Identify and improve understanding of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts
• Facilitate collaboration with;
• Industry,
• SNCBs,
• Other government departments,
• Researchers,
• Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and
• Other interested stakeholders (including fisheries).

Scottish Government (2020b) Offshore Wind Energy in Scottish Waters- Regional Locational Guidance

The Regional Location Guidance supports Scotland’s SMP for Offshore Wind. The document provides a baseline description of the environmental conditions present within Scottish waters, with a focus on the Plan Options being offered for offshore wind developments as part of the ScotWind leasing round. The document was supported by a thorough consultation looking at obtaining a national insight into potential stakeholder concerns. The document describes fishing activity within the east, northeast, west and north regions of Scottish waters. The activities such as the distribution of fishing activity for different vessel sizes and methods are included within this guidance.

Seafish (2012) Best Practice Guidance for Fishing Industry Financial and Economic Impact Assessments

This document provides best practice guidance for conducting commercial fisheries impact assessments in relation to loss of, or restricted access to, fishing grounds. The guidance details the different types of impacts which may occur due to the displacement of fishing effort, including:

• Economic: considers consequences for UK economy;
• Financial: considers monetary impacts for operators;
• Social: considers impacts on jobs and communities; and
• Environmental: considers environmental context, with some social & economic aspects

The document also includes an approach for assessing vulnerability to displacement and an approach for assessing displacement impacts and the key assumptions which may have to be made as part of the assessment.

The Crown Estate (2016) Changes to fishing practices around the UK as a result of the development of offshore windfarms Phase 1 (revised)

This document was produced as guidance on the impacts to commercial fishing activities and efforts as a result of MREs. The guidance identified that the majority of fishers which operated in areas now occupied by MREs either did not return or reduced fishing effort within the location. It was highlighted that the reduction in fishing effort was due to safety concerns rather than ecosystem changes. Consultation with displaced fishers highlighted four points associated with avoiding MRE-occupied areas:

• The risks associated with turbines and associated infrastructure;
• Excessive disruption to fishing (snagging, increased steaming times, etc.); and
• A poor relationship and communication between commercial fishers and offshore wind developers.
• The cumulative impact of MRE and MPAs reducing marine spatial availability.

Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables Group (FLOWW) (2014) Best Practice Guidance for Offshore Renewables Developments: Recommendations for Fisheries Liaison

The FLOWW best practice guidance was collaboratively developed by the commercial fishing industry, offshore energy industry and regulatory bodies to prevent conflicts between with the marine renewable industry and the commercial fisheries industry with sharing marine resources. The guidance highlights communication between the two industries to maximise the engagement and evidence to support the best mitigation measures.

FLOWW (2015) Best Practice Guidance for Offshore Renewables Developments: Recommendations for Fisheries Disruption Settlements and Community Funds

This document was developed to provide best practice guidance on disruption settlements. The guidance highlights in the first instance that potential disruption should be minimised as far as possible through mitigation measures and fisheries liaison to reduce any potential impacts. The guidance details key information for both industries to allow for the development of evidence-based mitigations, such as calculating monetary compensation or relocation of static gear.

International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) (2009) Fishing and Submarine Cables – Working Together

This document provides guidance to commercial fishers on the avoidance of snagging cables and the procedures should a snagging event occur. The aim of this document is to provide guidance to fishers to ensure safety and avoid conflict whilst both parties utilise the seabed. The document details how various fishing methods may interact with cables, the risks associated with cable snagging (e.g. if a skipper tries to lift the cable, it may affect stability, endangering the vessel and crew), and measures to prevent/reduce snagging events.

Scottish Government (2020) Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy 2020 – 2030

The goal of the Scottish Fisheries Management Strategy 2020 – 2030 is to set out an approach to monitoring Scotland’s sea fisheries as part of the wider blue economy and the migration to a net-zero emissions economy, which will support sustainable economic growth and local jobs. There document explores the delicate balance between environment, economic and social outcomes of the strategy.

The strategy also develops a management approach to balance the environmental and socio-economic aspects related to fisheries. The strategy established six outcomes, as follows:

• Address barriers to good governance with options to bring forwards an updated legislative framework by 2020 that will support sound fisheries management;
• Implement appropriate vessel monitoring to provide information on inshore fishing with the goal of prosecuting fishing at Maximum Sustainable Yields (MSY);
• Ensure clear governance with streamlined structures for regional fisheries groups;
• Management of inshore waters in an environmentally sustainable way to maximise benefit of coastal communities;
• Collect baseline data to understand the fishing footprint and the interactions between sustainable fishing, other activities in the marine environment and the needs of marine environmental protection to ensure that an appropriate balance between these interests is maintained;
• Utilise funding opportunities available from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and look to maximise value throughout the supply chain; and help facilitate accreditation ambitions for inshore fisheries.

Marine Scotland Inshore Fisheries Strategy (2015)

This strategy focuses on the management of inshore fisheries, particularly improving the information for inshore fishing vessels to embed inshore fisheries management to the marine planning. This strategy aims to implement an inshore vessel monitoring system which will improve the available information in decision making processes and baseline data.

Blyth-Skyrme (2010) Options and Opportunities for marine fisheries mitigation associated with windfarms

This document was developed to identify options for mitigation for impacts of OWFs on commercial fisheries. The document details the interactions between the industries and the different mitigation options available. The mitigation options are identified at different option types such as:

• Pre-construction options to minimise impacts on commercial fishing activities:
• Combining windfarms with Marine Conservation Zones;
• Selecting sites with minimal impact within a windfarm development zone;
• Designing windfarms or micro-siting turbines to avoid particular fishing grounds;
• Designing turbines bases or using scour protection to enhance fisheries;
• Planning cable routes to minimize potential impacts;
• Options to enhance stocks of targeted species and associated habitats;
• Stock enhancement from hatchery seed;
• Stock enhancement from wild seed;
• Laying cultch for oysters;
• Catch and release of large, broodstock animals;
• Options to support existing fishing activities;
• New fishing gear or equipment;
• Fisheries or vessel accreditation;
• Local or regional fisheries promotions;
• Develop a quota leasing programme;
• Support for maintenance or annual refit costs;
• Establish a fuel purchase subsidy programme;
• Development of Several and Regulating Orders;
• Improvement of port or beach-landing facilities;
• Options to develop new fisheries or other activities;
• Training for new fisheries opportunities or on maximising product quality;
• Support for Appropriate Assessments or EMS fishery management plans;
• Develop long-line or lantern-net aquaculture;

• Adapt to take advantage of tourism, recreation or other roles.

Scottish Government (2022e) Good Practice Guidance for assessing fisheries displacement by other licensed marine activities

This document was developed to review available information and studies which are relevant to displacement of fishing activity to better understand displacement and the interacting factors which may cause or be caused by it and identify the main constraints on developing a methodology for the assessment of fisheries displacement within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). By extension, the review was used to inform the Good Practice Guidance for Fisheries Displacement in Scotland.