Storm over fishing ‘exclusion zone’

A ROW has erupted over the alleged imposition of a fishing “exclusion zone” off the coast of Lancashire.

Fishermen in Fleetwood are warning of the “total collapse” of their industry following Danish firm Dong Energy’s plans to expand the Walney offshore wind farm.

Dong wants fishing vessels to avoid a “narrow strip” of the Irish Sea, but Fleetwood fishermen have staged a flotilla protest after the firm’s compensation offer of £750 per vessel.

According to the BBC, the company says it wants to “reach a mutually acceptable arrangement” and says it was not an exclusion zone but a request to avoid a stretch of water 800 metres wide for four months as the expansion of the wind farm off Cumbria’s coast is completed.

Fleetwood Commercial Fisherman’s Group which represents skippers and vessels owners says the strip fished by its vessels represents 80% of its fishing grounds.

Will Bamber, from the group, said fishermen would agree to keep out of the area, but the compensation offer was not acceptable.

“That is where we earn our bread and butter and we can’t go anywhere else,” he said on the BBC.

“They’re going to take it away from us… and we need compensating fairly for that.”

Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith said it was “incredibly important the deal was in proportion to their loss” not just for the fishermen.

“It is their livelihoods but also for the town… fishing is part of Fleetwood’s identity.”

Dong Energy said it had reached agreement with around 100 fishermen operating from North West ports regarding work planned for the wind farm which will be one of the world’s largest when completed.

It said compensation includes “appropriate disturbance payments for any potential loss of catch, or other costs”.