The Scottish Parliament voted on October 7 to back the principle that fishers should receive protection or compensation for financial losses resulting from offshore wind expansion into their established fishing grounds.
The amendment, proposed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party member James Adams, was agreed by 102 votes to 15, with no abstentions.
The amended motion was passed by the same tally. The vote is non-binding.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) called on the Scottish Government and offshore wind developers to establish a practical compensation framework following the decision.
SFF chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said: “Where impacts on fishing can be avoided, they should be. Where they cannot be avoided, the businesses affected must be properly compensated.”
A separate amendment proposed by Scottish Liberal Democrat member Andrew Baxter, which included a call for a comprehensive compensation scheme for displaced fishers, was rejected by 79 votes to 22, with 16 abstentions.
In a September 22 parliamentary answer, the Scottish Government said it was working with the fishing sector, offshore wind developers and other interested parties to consider ways to address effects on fishers.
Officials were formulating and evaluating possible approaches via the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council’s barriers to deployment subgroup.
They planned more stakeholder discussions to refine those approaches before advising ministers; the completion date would depend on which option or options were chosen and how complex they were.
A Scottish Government impact assessment said offshore wind expansion was likely to displace commercial fishing, potentially changing vessel costs and revenues and reducing fishing efficiency.
It identified vessels over 12 metres, particularly in the northeast and Shetland, as facing the greatest potential impacts.
The SFF had previously urged a pause in granting additional offshore wind approvals while fishing impacts and practical financial compensation arrangements remained unresolved.
