Concerns over marine space became a key part of the agenda at the latest Mid-Channel Conference, which has since the 1980s brought together parties from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK to discuss shared challenges.
This year’s conference was hosted by Belgian PO Rederscentrale, and a prominent issue for discussion was the issue of maritime spatial planning and the profound impact it is having on the industry and communities.
‘In recent decades, Channel waters have seen a significant rise in the need for space between various sectors, including offshore wind farms, transportation, tourism, and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). While we recognise the importance of these developments, the rapid expansion and limited coordination have increasingly squeezed the space available for fishing activities. This is of particular concern because fisheries play a crucial role in ensuring food security, and the livelihoods of many people across our nations, particularly in coastal communities and those active along the entire seafood value chain,’ a Rederscentrale representative commented.
‘The fishing industry already is subject to many regulations, fishing only in areas where it is permitted. However, with each passing year, the space where fishing is allowed is diminishing, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of our operations and the potential over-concentration of displaced fishing efforts within those areas remaining.’
The concern is that such a concentration risks not only the economic viability of the industry, and thus the available space for marine food production, and the localised depletion of fish stocks but also increased pressure to the marine environment, contradicting precisely the goals that spatial planning and conservation efforts seek to achieve.
‘We acknowledge the critical need for renewable energy to combat climate change. However, the current pace of offshore windfarm development, often executed with insufficient consideration of its broader impacts, poses significant challenges for our sector,’ Rederscentrale states.
‘These installations not only reduce the space available for fishing but also introduce safety risks for our vessels and other marine users. Moreover, the potential side effects of these projects on marine ecosystems and fish distribution have not been adequately studied or mitigated, affecting our ability to operate in the remaining open waters.’
Attention is drawn to the fact that the fishing industry is often expected to bridge scientific knowledge gaps, particularly regarding the environmental impacts of its activities. Despite this, the industry’s contributions and expertise are frequently overlooked in decision-making processes.
‘We emphasise that our industry has invested considerable resources in research and innovations aimed at reducing our environmental footprint. Studies, such as the one published by UNCTAD1, highlight that fishing vessels contribute only a small fraction of global CO2 emissions and that fish production has a lower carbon footprint compared to other animal proteins,’ the conference stated.
The parties have made a number of recommendations, including taking regional and international considerations into account, and ensuring a meaningful consultation with the fishing industry.
Further recommendations include investing in and supporting innovations that enable the co-location of fishing activities with other marine uses, particularly in areas designated for renewable energy and conservation, and the need to rethink Exclusion Zones, as certain types of sustainable fishing are compatible with conservation goals, allowing for more efficient use of marine space.
The Conference regards it as essential that assurances should be given that at the end of a windfarm’s operational lifespan the site will either be fully decommissioned (including the removal of all subsea infrastructure) or repowered with new turbines.
‘This will ensure that fishing grounds are not lost in perpetuity once a wind farm is designated, which will help to ease the pressures of spatial squeeze once decommissioned sites are reopened to fishing,’ the Conference spokesperson commented.
‘It is crucial that the fishing industry’s voice is not just heard but listened to and acted upon in marine spatial planning and for associated developments in the marine space. The challenges we face are complex, but through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable practices, we can find solutions that ensure the health of our oceans, the sustainability of our fisheries, and the security of our food supply.’
