Major milestone in fisheries and offshore renewable energy cross-sector engagement: updated guidance. The Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables Group (FLOWW) is launching updated Best Practice Guidance to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between fisheries and the offshore renewables industry while minimising disruption to all parties and promoting safe and sustainable working practices.

The publication of the new Guidance reflects the FLOWW members’ commitment to work through challenges which have arisen following the expansion of offshore wind development in recent years and since the last Guidance was published in 2014.

The revised document provides best practice guidance on effective liaison, communication, and exchange of information, between offshore renewable energy (ORE) sectors and the fishing industry, during all phases of an ORE project. It describes when, how and why liaison should take place, to help minimise, and address as part of embedded mitigation, any potential impacts of ORE projects on fishing activities.

FLOWW was set up in 2002 to foster good relations between the fishing and offshore renewable energy sectors and encourage co-existence of the industries across the UK. It is supported by The Crown Estate who provide funding for the Chair and Secretariat roles.

Colin Warwick, Chair of FLOWW, commenting on the launch said,

“The FLOWW Guidance we are launching today has taken a lot of effort by a lot of people. The journey to where we are today has shown the positive aspects of people working together for a common goal. Change is never an easy journey and producing the second revised Guidance has been much more difficult than the first iteration in 2014, particularly because we know more about the potential impacts of offshore wind than we did 20 years ago. It has required a focus on the details in order to solve the wider challenges. This new Guidance is a very important step forward. We must continue to work together to achieve a balanced approach where two industries can Harvest in Harmony. FLOWW members will have a big part to play as we move towards a balanced approach that finds a way to harvest both food and energy from our seas.”

Sion Roberts, Senior Manager at The Crown Estate, said,

“Our seaspace is becoming an increasingly busy environment with many important sectors operating in similar or adjacent areas. Collaboration and cooperation between these sectors is vital if we are to make the most of the space we have for the benefit of industry, communities and nature across the UK.

“Through The Crown Estate’s support for FLOWW, we’ve facilitated beneficial dialogue between the fishing industry and the developers of offshore renewable projects, and welcome this updated guidance to further mutual understanding.”

Fisheries Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

“We’re putting the conditions in place to make Britain a clean energy superpower and backing our fishing industry to deliver more growth and stability for both the sector and coastal communities.

“The FLOWW Guidance reflects best practice for ways of working – devised by and for the offshore renewables and fishing sectors. It shows how the sectors can work together hand-in-hand for their mutual benefit.”

Mike Cohen, Chief Executive at the NFFO, said:

“The new FLOWW Best Practice Guidance, through a phenomenal amount of work, has brought together many individuals, with extensive expertise, in a truly collaborative approach. The first iteration of the FLOWW Guidance were used extensively since their initial launch, but it was recognised that there is a need for the guidance to remain fit for purpose in the rapidly changing environment in which it is used. It has taken some time to ensure this new iteration meets the needs of both the fishing and offshore wind sectors, whilst keeping liaison and collaboration as their central focus. The end result is a set of updated Guidance that all contributors can be proud of.

In the rapidly changing landscape of offshore renewables, robust liaison guidelines between the renewables and fisheries sectors are essential in minimising disruption and ensuring both industries can remain active throughout a development’s lifecycle. Liaison, transparency, and collaboration will always be essential, but the approach taken must be sufficiently adaptable to encompass the scale of the change in use of the marine landscape that we are experiencing;  the new technologies that are continually developed; and the rate at which Government net zero goals are accelerating offshore wind ambitions”

RenewableUK’s Head of Environment and Consent Kat Route-Stephens said:

“The publication of this updated guidance reflects a strong sense of commitment by the offshore wind industry, the fishing industry and other key stakeholders to work even closer together to find positive ways to share an increasingly busy marine environment. By promoting clear and consistent good practices which enable different sectors to liaise with each other successfully, we can ensure both fisheries and renewables continue to thrive and develop sustainably.”

Suzannah Walmsley, Associate Fisheries and Aquaculture Consultant at ABPmer and Secretariat to FLOWW, said:

“As a long-time collaborator with FLOWW, we are delighted to see the updated Best Practice Guidance launched. This has required collaboration and compromise from all involved and it represents a significant step in ensuring continued effective collaboration between the fishing and ORE sectors to promote safe and sustainable working practices.”

A launch event for the Guidance takes place on Thursday 27^th November at London’s historic Fishmongers’ Hall.

The guidance is now available from The Crown Estate’s website.

Photo credit: Jamie Robertson, HFIG