Scotland’s fishing leaders have issued a stark warning to ministers, calling for an immediate halt to new offshore wind farm consents.
The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) says the government’s plans to expand offshore wind to 40GW by 2040 represent a ‘reckless gamble’ that threatens the nation’s seas, jobs and coastal heritage.
In formal responses to two Scottish government consultations, the SFF claims the offshore wind strategy risks ‘significant and long-term negative impacts’ on fishing communities and marine ecosystems.
“This isn’t a plan – it’s a stampede,” said Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the SFF.
“The government is charging ahead without the faintest idea how to protect the people and places that will be trampled in the rush.”
The SFF accuses ministers of prioritising economic gains from offshore wind at the expense of coastal livelihoods. It warns that mitigation measures for the fishing industry are ‘non-existent or useless’, with no credible compensation strategy.
Macdonald continued: “We’ve been telling them for years these plans will seriously damage our industry. Now even their own assessments show the harm. Until they can prove our seas and fishing jobs are safe, they must slam on the brakes.”
SFF also criticised the INTOG process and the ScotWind leasing round as rushed and poorly consulted, warning of irreversible environmental damage to marine habitats.
“Fishing is one of Scotland’s original green industries,” said Macdonald. “Renewable food cannot be the price for renewable energy. Betting everything on offshore wind is a high-risk strategy that Scotland’s seas, and our communities, cannot afford.”
The SFF is urging ministers to reassess the scale and pace of offshore wind development, placing marine protection and fishing livelihoods at the heart of future planning.
