A significant majority of Scottish citizens are in favour of a pause on new offshore wind farm developments until compensation frameworks for the fishing industry are established. A recent poll, conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF), highlighted public sentiment regarding the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure in Scotland’s marine environment.
The survey, which engaged 1,000 nationally representative adults across Scotland between 22 and 26 January, found that 65 per cent of respondents supported a temporary halt to offshore wind projects. This pause is intended to allow for a comprehensive assessment of the impacts on fishermen and the agreement of suitable compensation arrangements. Furthermore, the poll revealed that 86 per cent of Scots believe that the natural fish resources in their seas are integral to national food security. The fishing sector itself garnered considerable public approval, with over 62 per cent expressing a positive opinion of the industry, compared to just 6 per cent holding a negative view.
The SFF has consistently voiced concerns over the increasing marine acreage being allocated to offshore wind farms, fearing the potential displacement of fishing fleets from their traditional grounds. Research commissioned by the SFF indicates that the proliferation of offshore wind developments could result in the trawling fleet being excluded from 50 per cent of its fishing grounds by 2050.
Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the SFF, emphasised the clear message from the poll results:
“Taken together, these findings send a clear message: the Scottish public supports renewable energy, but not at the expense of Scotland’s fishing fleet or without proper safeguards in place.”
“With two-thirds of voters backing a temporary pause on further offshore wind approvals, more than eight in 10 calling for protection of the fleet, and strong support for mandatory compensation where harm occurs, Scots expect policymakers to strike a fair balance between energy development and food security.”
In Case You Missed It:
Macdonald urged future political leadership to acknowledge these findings, commenting: “Whoever forms the next Scottish Government must take these strong opinions into account before the fishing industry is squeezed out of legitimate and long-established fishing grounds forever.”
The Scottish Government is currently developing a Strategic Compensation Policy for Offshore Wind, aimed at providing a more flexible approach to compensation for adverse effects of offshore wind development on marine environments and industries.
This policy, enabled by the UK Energy Act 2023, represents a shift towards developers funding broader environmental measures rather than direct compensation for specific impacts. However, the fishing industry continues to highlight the need for robust and effective compensation that fully addresses potential livelihood losses and operational impacts.
