A “sea of opportunity” could unlock the door to Arbroath getting back into commercial fishing, a North East Scotland MSP said.
Conservative Bill Bowman said Arbroath is a “sleeping giant in fishing” and one which could easily re-emerge as a strategic player in UK industry following Brexit.
Mr Bowman was speaking after asking the SNP’s rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing what discussions the Scottish Government has had with fishermen in Angus regarding the impact of offshore wind developments on the fishing industry.
The Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL) scheme 15km from Arbroath is one of three multi-billion pound turbine arrays proposed for the outer Firths of the Tay and Forth in a zone stretching around ten miles into the North Sea.
Mr Bowman asked the cabinet secretary: “Arbroath and Angus had thriving fishing industries prior to the implemetation of the Common Fisheries Policy and I welcome the sea of opportunity that leaving the CFP will afford my constituents.
“So, for after leaving the CFP, can the Cabinet Secretary tell me what assessment has been made of the impact that the increasing number of offshore wind infrastructure will have on the increased number of fishing vessels?”
Mr Ewing said the Scottish Government regularly discuss strategic issues relating to the impact of offshore wind developments with fishermen and their representative organisations.
He confirmed a review is currently being undertaken to ensure adequate mitigations are in place to protect the fishing sector which it takes “extremely seriously”.
Mr Bowman was disappointed after Mr Ewing suggested he did not see the link between the impact of offshore wind developments and an increasing number of fishing boats plying their trade in the the North Sea.
He said: “Arbroath is a sleeping giant in fishing, one which could easily re-emerge as a strategic player in UK industry.
“I value the ecological and economic benefits of offshore wind but any future direction the SNP takes on fisheries must work hand-in-hand with the energy sector, to the benefit of all.
“We have seen in other countries that a failure to do so may lead to resentment from fishermen.”
Countries like the Netherlands have seen increasing numbers of offshore developments met with resistance by local fishermen.
They have been upset that many utilities close off access to the waters around the windmills which limits the amount of space in already crowded seas as both fishermen and power companies jostle for room.
Fishing community leaders have also claimed they are being crowded out of their waters and that the towering turbines damage fish stocks and deafen and displace the local porpoise populations.
