The Provision of Fisheries Related Advice for Onshore Wind Farm Developments

Salmon and trout fisheries are a significant sector of the Scottish economy and along with the European eel, are species of high conservation interest. Marine Scotland Science (MSS) plays a vital role in the regulatory process for onshore wind farm developments, ensuring that potential impacts on these fish populations and associated fisheries are properly considered. With Scottish Government (SG) targets for the equivalent of 50% of the energy for Scotland’s heat, transport and electricity consumption to be supplied from renewable sources, and an increase by 30% in the productivity of energy use across the Scottish economy by 2030, onshore wind is now amongst the lowest cost forms of electricity generation of any kind. In addition, it continues to be the largest contributor of renewable electricity in Scotland (74% in the fourth quarter of 2017 according to Scottish Renewables in 2018).