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Cornwall fishermen fear for livelihoods as offshore wind farms pose 'greatest change' the industry has faced


David Stevens, from the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation, says the proposals for the area where he fishes would "close down around 60% to 70%" of the waters.

By ; Dan WhiteheadWest of England and Wales correspondent

Fishermen in Cornwall fear proposals for mass offshore wind farms could destroy their businesses and pose the "greatest change" the fishing industry has ever faced.

The Crown Estate - which owns much of the country's seabed - has published plans for what it calls "areas of opportunity" for offshore wind farms in waters off the North East and the Celtic Sea around South Wales, Devon and Cornwall.It insists a maximum of 15% of North East and 12% of Celtic Sea zones may be leased to offshore wind companies.But David Stevens from the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation told Sky News fishermen fear they will be squeezed out of already busy waters.

He said: "This is probably the greatest change to our fishing patterns and businesses we're ever going to encounter, we're going to be squeezed out of the way, that's our greatest fear, by all these wind farms all of a sudden taking up ground that we traditionally fish." He added: "I've looked at the proposals to the south where I work and it would completely close down around about 60% to 70% of the area I work. So my business plan - it's gone out of the window."

Mr Stevens said this is not about the fishing industry being against green energy, adding: "I am all in favour of renewable energy – it's definitely the way to go forward. But there needs to be a balance between energy security for the country and food security for the country.

"We're the fishermen, we're out providing the food source, that is also, is it not, as important as energy, we're humans we need heat, we need food, we need shelter."The Crown Estate told Sky News offshore wind has a "critical" role to play in supporting the UK’s energy transition.It said: "The seabed is subject to a wide range of competing and complementary demands, which is why we have set out our initial thinking on how, and where, the future deployment of offshore wind might be possible, taking into account the needs of different sectors - including fishing - and the natural environment."

Offshore wind is not the only green initiative causing concern amongst coastal communities in the South West. Several seaweed farms are planned around Cornwall - covering 600 hectares of coastline.The product could provide alternatives to plastic - but campaigners say consultation over the farms has been insufficient and worry ropes used could cause a risk to marine wildlife.

Source : Skynews

 

 

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