ABPmer AWARDED CONTRACT TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC SITING OF OFFSHORE WIND FARMS
ABP Marine Environmental Research (ABPmer) has been awarded a contract to develop spatial information layers on the location and economic value of commercial fishing and shellfishing activities in UK waters. The work, funded by Collaborative Offshore Wind Research into the Environment (COWRIE), will primarily be used to support strategic siting assessments for Round 3 Offshore Wind Farms, but will also be of relevance for other marine renewable energy projects.
In 2007, ABPmer, supported by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), developed and applied a methodology for assigning estimates of the spatial value of benthic fisheries and shellfisheries to the seabed around England and Wales. This work was undertaken as part of a wider study for Defra exploring the potential cost impacts on various marine uses stemming from proposals in the draft Marine Bill to introduce Marine Conservation Zones.
The GIS layers will be developed, in association with CEFAS and the Fisheries Research Services (FRS), using demersal, pelagic, dredge fisheries data and landing statistics. The work will also be carried out in consultation with a number of external bodies, including Sea Fisheries Committees, the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations and various Regional Advisory Councils.
All of these derived information layers will be made available on the COWRIE website (www.offshorewind.co.uk) early next year.
Bill Cooper, Managing Director, ABPmer said:
“ABPmer is delighted to be leading this project. We have been actively involved in marine spatial planning research and development for Defra in support of the Marine Bill, and with the Crown Estate in relation to offshore wind development for a few years now. We understand both the value of strategic planning in the marine environment and the information needed to make sustainable decisions. The creation of GIS layers on the location and economic value of commercial fishing and shellfishing activities in UK waters provides an opportunity to steer offshore wind farm developments away from economically important fishing grounds at the planning stage. This is in the interests of both the offshore wind farm developers and fishermen.”
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