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

Appendix H Glossary

Table 7‑12 lists all glossary terms from the Good Practice Guidance document, the Rapid Literature Review, and the Dataset Analysis Report.

Active fishing (mobile gear)

Methods involving moving gear (e.g., trawling, purse seining) to catch fish.

Automatic Identification System (AIS)

A vessel tracking system which enables vessels to transmit and receive vessel position data via an AIS transponder.

Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE)

A measure of fishing success, calculated as the catch (in weight or number) per unit of fishing effort (e.g., hours, hooks, or nets).

Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

A European Union policy framework that regulates fishing activities, conservation, and sustainable resource use.

Co-existence

Two activities existing at the same time and/or in the same space.

Commercial fisheries

Legal fishing activity undertaken for commercial profit.

Cumulative impact

The combined impact that occurs when the impacts of two or more past, present of future plans/projects/activities overlap in time and space.

Demersal trawl

Cone shaped net towed along the seabed.

Displacement

The relocation of fishing activity (i.e. pressure or effort) into another area as a result of restricted access to or closure of an area.^[56]

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Process of evaluating the environmental impacts of a proposed project or development. An EIA is required when a development qualifies as an EIA project under the relevant regulations.

Fish1 forms

In Scotland, under-10 m vessels submit Fish1 forms which are similar to logbooks.

Fisheries Co-existence and Liaison Plan (FCLP)

A strategy to balance fishing activities with other marine uses, such as offshore wind farms or aquaculture.

Fisheries Industry Representative (FIR)

The FIR will support the FLO. This individual should be trusted by local fishers and have an extensive knowledge of the local fishing industry. The FIR will communicate information from the developer to the fishing community and vice versa via the FLO.

Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO)

An appointed individual nominated by a developer who is the main point of contact for the fishing industry when direct communication with the developer is needed. The FLO will liaise with and between the fishers and the developer, with support from the FIR.

Fisheries Management and Mitigation Strategy (FMMS)

A comprehensive plan to manage fishing activities while minimizing environmental impact and ensuring sustainable resource use.

Guard vessel

A vessel that monitors and enforces fishing regulations, ensuring compliance with fishing quotas, gear restrictions, and conservation measures.

ICES rectangle

ICES rectangles are a spatial unit used for the collection and analysis of fisheries statistics by the European Commission (EC) Member States, and the UK.

iVMS

Technology that tracks vessel positions, enhancing safety, compliance, and fisheries management.

Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas (INTOG) leasing round

In November 2022, the Crown Estate Scotland (CES) announced

The INTOG Leasing Round, to help enable this sector-wide commitment to decarbonisation. INTOG allows developers to apply for the rights to construct offshore windfarms for the purpose of providing low carbon electricity to power oil and gas installations and help to decarbonise the sector.

Inshore

A Section of the marine environment that is situated between Mean High-Water Springs up to 12 NM offshore.

Inshore fisheries

Fishing activity that takes place exclusively within 12 NM of the shore.

Landings data

Information on the quantity and species of fish landed at ports, essential for fisheries management and stock assessments.

Logbook

A record maintained by fishers or vessel operators, documenting catch data, fishing effort, and other relevant information.

Marine Coordination Centre (MCC)

A central hub that coordinates activities related to offshore operations, safety, and logistics. It manages vessel movements, personnel transfers, and emergency response.

Marine Directorate

Civil service directorate for Scotland, which is responsible for the

integrated management of Scotland’s seas.

Marine Management Organisation (MMO)

A public body that manages fisheries, marine licensing, marine planning and marine conservation in the UK.

Marine Protected Area (MPA)

A designated site located offshore in the sea, which have specific regulations aim to protect marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and habitats.

Marine Spatial Planning

A process that allocates marine space for various activities (e.g., fishing, shipping, energy production) while considering ecological, economic, and social factors.

Nephrops

Also known as Norway lobster and langoustine.

Offshore

Any location which is non-terrestrial and deeper than Mean High Water Springs.

Offshore Windfarm (OWF)

An offshore wind farm is a group of wind turbine generators (WTG) in the same location (offshore) in the sea, which are used to produce electricity.

Offshore FLO (OFLO)

Refers to floating offshore structures, such as floating wind turbines or platforms used for energy production.

Passive fishing (static)

Fishing methods where gear remains stationary (e.g., traps, longlines, gillnets) rather than actively chasing fish.

Project Environmental Monitoring Programme (PEMP)

A plan for monitoring environmental impacts during project implementation, which is often used in large-scale developments, such as offshore wind farms.

Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

Integrated on-board systems of GPS, video, gear sensors and cameras to capture fishing activity and provide positional data.

Scoping

Scoping occurs in advance of EIA. It involves the request of a Scoping Opinion from the appropriate authority via the submission of a Scoping Report. The Scoping Report outlines the content and extent of the EIA, highlighting the key environmental sensitivities to be addressed within the EIA and the methodologies to do so. The Scoping Opinion should detail what requires further elaboration or addition in the EIA.

ScotWind Leasing Round

First Offshore Wind Leasing Round held since the devolution of the Scottish Crown Estate and has been administered by Crown Estate Scotland

Socio-economic Impact Assessment (SEIA)

An assessment and evaluation of the potential impacts from a project on local communities and ecosystems.

Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Total tonnage of each fish stock that may be removed from the sea each year by those fleets that fish it.

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

Vessel satellite tracking system, operated on vessels > 12 m in EU waters.