Best Practice Guidance for Fisheries Liaison with Offshore Renewables Developments

Report

Title: Best Practice Guidance for Fisheries Liaison with Offshore Renewables Developments

Author:

Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables

Publication Date:

November 1, 2025

Pages:

1-73

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind

Receptor:

Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement

Language:

English

Document Access

Website:

External Link

Attachment:

Access File

Citation

Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables (2025). Best Practice Guidance for Fisheries Liaison with Offshore Renewables Developments.

TY - RPRT
TI - Best Practice Guidance for Fisheries Liaison with Offshore Renewables Developments
AU - Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables
AB - 1 Purpose and Scope1.1 PurposeThe purpose of this document is to provide 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. This document recommends when, how and why liaison should take place. Effective liaison is pivotal in helping to avoid, minimise, and/or address as part of embedded mitigation, any potential impacts of ORE projects on fishing activities. The guidance is intended to foster mutual understanding and cooperation while minimising disruption to all parties, and to promote safe and sustainable working practices.1.2 ScopeThis document covers current and future ORE sectors across the United Kingdom (UK), including:offshore wind (with a focus on fixed offshore wind farms);wave and tidal stream (i.e. excluding tidal barrage projects);test and demonstration projects; andORE-related infrastructure (i.e., subsea cables and protection methods, moorings, substations, and grid connections).In addition to adherence to the guidance, individuals should satisfy themselves of the legal position regarding any associated regulatory requirements. Adherence to the guidance does not alter or limit the application of any regulatory requirements or individual obligations (including but not limited to SOLAS and COLREGS), of which such regulatory requirements should take priority.The guidance described in this document should be followed by all parties involved in offshore renewable developments and fisheries engagement and liaison, including but not limited to ORE developers and representatives, consultants contracted to or working on behalf of ORE developers, fisheries liaison officers, fishing industry representatives, individual fishers, fisheries associations and organisations, and any consultant or person working for or on behalf of a fisher or group of fishers.As recognised best practice guidance, and in the absence of legislation, it is advised and expected that all ORE developers and fisheries stakeholders respect and work in line with this guidance.Deviation from the guidance should only be in exceptional circumstances. Where parties do not follow the best practice guidance, they should provide a clear justification for the deviation, its rationale and any alternative approach taken, and demonstrate how they continue to work consistently with the overarching aim of promoting cooperation and minimising disruption, whilst ensuring safety and maximising opportunities for co-existence.Whilst this guidance has been developed in collaboration with UK-based fishers, the principles apply to all relevant fishing vessels in UK waters, regardless of nationality.1.3 Structure of this guidanceThis guidance is structured as follows:Chapter 2: Overview of the ORE Lifecycle;Chapter 3: Roles and Responsibilities;Chapter 4: Liaison during the Lifecycle of ORE Projects;Chapter 5: Methods of Engagement;Chapter 6: Subsea Cables; andChapter 7: Disruption Settlements, Protocols for Lost/Damaged Gear, and Fisheries Community Funds.Chapter 2 provides an overview of the ORE lifecycle and key opportunities for fisheries liaison. This includes many partners such as The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland at the seabed leasing stage, as well as ORE developers. However, the predominant focus of the guidance is on liaison between fishers and ORE developers.Chapter 3 discusses the key roles and responsibilities of both ORE developers and fishers in relation to liaison.Chapters 4–7 are each structured around key recommendations, which are then expanded upon with relevant details and signposted information. The considerations and timescales of different needs and types of liaison opportunities are identified. There is joint responsibility for both fishers and developers to take on board the necessary liaison requirements and to stay up to date with these.In this guidance, the principals of the ‘avoid, minimise, and/or mitigate’ hierarchy apply equally to all parts of the ORE project lifecycle (and associated activities), and all parties should be held accountable to the hierarchy. ‘Avoid’ can apply to individual aspects of an ORE project, for example, ORE-related surveys avoiding key fishing seasons.This guidance is supported by Supplementary Information (SI) in Appendices. The Supplementary Information should be used for reference, and in conjunction with the guidance, as required.
DA - 2025/11//
PY - 2025
SP - 1
EP - 73
UR - https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/our-business/marine/the-fishing-liaison-with-offshore-wind-and-wet-renewables-group
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Stakeholder Engagement
ER -

Export Citation to RIS

Abstract

1 Purpose and Scope

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide 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. This document recommends when, how and why liaison should take place. Effective liaison is pivotal in helping to avoid, minimise, and/or address as part of embedded mitigation, any potential impacts of ORE projects on fishing activities. The guidance is intended to foster mutual understanding and cooperation while minimising disruption to all parties, and to promote safe and sustainable working practices.

1.2 Scope

This document covers current and future ORE sectors across the United Kingdom (UK), including:

offshore wind (with a focus on fixed offshore wind farms);
wave and tidal stream (i.e. excluding tidal barrage projects);
test and demonstration projects; and
ORE-related infrastructure (i.e., subsea cables and protection methods, moorings, substations, and grid connections).

In addition to adherence to the guidance, individuals should satisfy themselves of the legal position regarding any associated regulatory requirements. Adherence to the guidance does not alter or limit the application of any regulatory requirements or individual obligations (including but not limited to SOLAS and COLREGS), of which such regulatory requirements should take priority.

The guidance described in this document should be followed by all parties involved in offshore renewable developments and fisheries engagement and liaison, including but not limited to ORE developers and representatives, consultants contracted to or working on behalf of ORE developers, fisheries liaison officers, fishing industry representatives, individual fishers, fisheries associations and organisations, and any consultant or person working for or on behalf of a fisher or group of fishers.

As recognised best practice guidance, and in the absence of legislation, it is advised and expected that all ORE developers and fisheries stakeholders respect and work in line with this guidance.

Deviation from the guidance should only be in exceptional circumstances. Where parties do not follow the best practice guidance, they should provide a clear justification for the deviation, its rationale and any alternative approach taken, and demonstrate how they continue to work consistently with the overarching aim of promoting cooperation and minimising disruption, whilst ensuring safety and maximising opportunities for co-existence.

Whilst this guidance has been developed in collaboration with UK-based fishers, the principles apply to all relevant fishing vessels in UK waters, regardless of nationality.

1.3 Structure of this guidance

This guidance is structured as follows:

Chapter 2: Overview of the ORE Lifecycle;
Chapter 3: Roles and Responsibilities;
Chapter 4: Liaison during the Lifecycle of ORE Projects;
Chapter 5: Methods of Engagement;
Chapter 6: Subsea Cables; and
Chapter 7: Disruption Settlements, Protocols for Lost/Damaged Gear, and Fisheries Community Funds.

Chapter 2 provides an overview of the ORE lifecycle and key opportunities for fisheries liaison. This includes many partners such as The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland at the seabed leasing stage, as well as ORE developers. However, the predominant focus of the guidance is on liaison between fishers and ORE developers.

Chapter 3 discusses the key roles and responsibilities of both ORE developers and fishers in relation to liaison.

Chapters 4–7 are each structured around key recommendations, which are then expanded upon with relevant details and signposted information. The considerations and timescales of different needs and types of liaison opportunities are identified. There is joint responsibility for both fishers and developers to take on board the necessary liaison requirements and to stay up to date with these.

In this guidance, the principals of the ‘avoid, minimise, and/or mitigate’ hierarchy apply equally to all parts of the ORE project lifecycle (and associated activities), and all parties should be held accountable to the hierarchy. ‘Avoid’ can apply to individual aspects of an ORE project, for example, ORE-related surveys avoiding key fishing seasons.

This guidance is supported by Supplementary Information (SI) in Appendices. The Supplementary Information should be used for reference, and in conjunction with the guidance, as required.