2.1 Fleetwood and Barrow in Furness Fishermen have alerted the Committee to the increasing problem of the potential loss of shipping lanes and safe access to the Ports from the 5 potential and operating windfarm sites located in the vicinity together with the proposed Gateway gas storage development. This safety problem is additional to the cumulative loss of important fishing grounds in the area as a result of these wind farms. The CEO had a meeting with the Fleetwood Fisherman’s Association on 27 November and agreed to raise their concerns at the next meeting of the DTI – Windfarm Industry group (FLOW).

2.2 The meeting also agreed that the Committee should be invited to raise this issue with the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and ask for an investigation of the impact of these developments on all shipping using the area.

2.3 The Fishermen consider there would be significant increased risk to the safety of all vessels arising from the constraints on the shipping lanes to and from the ports if all these developments were to go ahead. Inshore fishing vessels would be at particular risk because they are relatively small in size and engine power and they are more limited by the weather conditions in which they can operate. Strong winds in that area from the west and north create circumstances where they have very little freedom to control their speed and direction as they approach Fleetwood and under some conditions steering between wind farms could become a major hazard. The more so if there are other vessels to be avoided.

2.4 The 2 latest new proposed wind farm sites, West of Duddon Sands and Shell Flats are by far the most damaging. Coming on top of earlier developments, they would impose unacceptable new limits on all shipping including fishing boats to and from Fleetwood and Barrow. The new Shell Flats site is on the southern edge of the main shipping main lane to Fleetwood and West of Duddon would close off much of the access from the North to both ports.

2.5 In addition the proposed gas storage caverns in the salt seams of the seabed off Fleetwood would close off much of the westerly access to the Port.

2.6 If a mechanical fault developed to a vessel on passage through this area, the time to repair, gain assistance from another vessel or call the lifeboat would be unacceptably limited. The risk of collision with other vessels or sea surface structures to fishing boats operating in mist and fog would be greatly increased. The problems with detecting small vessels among or beyond turbine arrays on radar are well known. The Committee’s officers have shown that this is a difficulty for their radar systems in the Fleetwood area.

2.7 The result of all these concerns on the fishing industry will be to create a significant increase in days when boats cannot get out of port or would not risk a fishing expedition. All vessels will have to pay much closer attention to forecasts of deteriorating weather which could compromise their return journey and be much more cautious than they have had to be in the past about the conditions in which they put to sea. This impact or reduced days at sea will translate directly into a reduction in fishermen's income.

2.8 These developments, if they all went ahead would very significantly reduce the inshore fishing opportunities for boats operating out of Fleetwood and Barrow.

3.1 These 6 developments will result in a loss of fishing ground which would have a further major impact on inshore fishing from Fleetwood and Barrow in addition to the impact on vessel movements as outlined above. Fleetwood and Barrow fishermen have already lost important fishing grounds as result of the Barrow offshore windfarm.

3.2 The most serious development in this respect is the Cirrus Shell flats array which is now proposed to be sited on the single most important trawl tow in the immediate vicinity of Fleetwood. This ground is critical to the survival of what remains of the inshore fleet in Fleetwood. It is the ground they use most often when the weather is poor but when there is the opportunity for a quick fishing sortie to gain some income. It is described by local skippers as the first and last tow on a high proportion of their trips.

3.3 Local fishermen will state and show from their fishing records that they have obtained a substantial part of their annual income from this fishing ground. They are concerned that this development alone would make the remaining inshore fishing vessels operating from Fleetwood unviable.

3.4 The Committee has already objected to the Cirrus Shell Flats Array development and received a response from the Developer Dong Energy. However, the Committee does not consider its concerns have been addressed and should maintain its objection.

3.5 The West of Duddon Sands offshore windfarm will result in the loss of a large area fishing ground. Although this area is fished much less than the Cirrus Shell Flats area, it is an area of mixed fishery in close proximity to the home port of fishing vessels from Barrow and Fleetwood. It therefore contributes a significant component of the incomes of fishermen in the area and is of great value locally

3.6 The loss of either or both these grounds would force fishermen to travel further using more fuel, for an equivalent catch. The impact will be higher overheads and longer days at sea. Since high quality alternative grounds are not available for local short range, inshore boats a reduction in fishermen’s livelihoods is inevitable.

4.1 The Cirrus shell flats Array windfarm should be located further to the south of it currently proposed location to avoid a main shipping channel out of Fleetwood and some of the most valuable fishing ground in the area.

4.2 The West of Duddon Sands offshore windfarms should be located further offshore to avoid reducing the width of shipping channels to Fleetwood and Barrow from the north and west.

4.3 The Committee maintains its earlier objections to both these development. However, the Committee would consider locations that had less impact on fishing and would be willing to facilitate discussions between the developer and the fishermen to agree locations where the impact would be reduced.