A series of Public Open Days, accompanied by meetings and panel discussions are underway in the Government’s consultation process about the four proposed Maritime Areas off the South Coast, within which fixed offshore wind farms may be located in the future. Analysis by Tom MacSweeney.

They began last night (Wednesday, May 17th) in Waterford. Today (Thurs), the venue is Cork County Hall on Carrigrohane Road, starting at 3 p.m. Next week, the consultation series moves to Wexford Town and then onto Rosslare Harbour, Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East, Ring, Tramore, Cobh and Ballycotton.

The decision of the Seafood Industry Representatives Forum (SIRF), a collective of eight Irish fishing and aquaculture industry representative organisations, to give a cautious welcome (they described it as ‘guarded’ in their official statement) to the Government’s ‘Future Framework Policy Statement for Offshore Renewable Energy’ is a significant development in the context of marine spatial planning.

This was followed by the transfer of responsibility for Ireland’s marine planning system to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

"Is there a change of attitude at Government level, with more appreciation of the importance of the marine sphere to an island nation?"

The framework statement aligns ORE policy, including marine spatial planning, industrial strategy, interconnection, renewable hydrogen development, private wires, storage, infrastructural alignment and technology innovation

Questions have been raised about why marine planning had been given to the land-bound Housing Department, which has an unresolved major task of its own—housing Ireland’s population—while the Department of the Marine was ignored.

Is there a change of attitude at Government level, with more appreciation of the importance of the marine sphere to an island nation?

Minister Ryan is to publish Ireland’s first statutory Marine Planning Policy Statement and a ‘cross-section Marine Spatial Planning Advisory Group is being reactivated, according to his Department. Membership of this group will be important. It should not be solely composed of Departmental officials. Wide marine stakeholder representation is needed, but it is still only an ‘Advisory’ Group.

However, is it some response to the Seafood Forum’s request for “a working group comprising seafood industry representatives and officials of his Department to ‘knock heads together’ and find solutions to the problems that currently threaten the orderly roll out of offshore renewables,” as proposed by the Forum? Wind farm developers had a lead role in Phase One of offshore development to make site choices. The fishing industry has claimed those made will impact on traditional fishing grounds.

“Rather than portray fishermen as bad guys trying to prevent ORE, proper consideration should be given to the wider socio-economic and environmental priorities for local communities. This is the best way to help facilitate a stable political consensus and drive investment,” according to SIRF, which acknowledged that fishing, aquaculture and processing had been recognised as vital socio-economic activities and sources of income and employment for coastal communities in the ORE ‘Future Framework Policy Statement.’

It also recognised the potential socio-economic impacts of ORE on those communities. Wind energy developers have had a stronger public voice on policy up to now.

Is the Government's attitude moving towards a better appreciation of the need for balance and agreement among all stakeholders in the sector on marine planning and development?

There are other issues to be resolved - Marine Protected Areas, Designated Maritime Area Plans and Special Areas of Conservation. What impact will they have on marine leisure activities – boating, angling, sailing and the growing public interest in the marine sphere for recreation? These sectors are also stakeholders with requirements to be met as are NGO environmental organisations which has a strong voice on marine planning. All will have to accept that the best way forward is through general agreement.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has said that the new Marine Spatial Planning Advisory Group will “provide for alignment of marine policies and State investment in the maritime sector, giving leadership and oversight on a whole of Government basis.”
It is to be hoped that this will be delivered upon.

The Chairman of SIRC, the CEO of the Irish South and East Fish Producers’ Organisation, John Lynch, put it succinctly: “Future generations will not thank us if we do not get this right.”