Could wind farms become prohibited areas?

[dgadee]

I've always imagined it to be heat, and vibration to a point. Both locations are unaffected by fishing, however the windfarm locations have only recently become unfishable zones, whereas the oil platforms have been for decades.
40 years ago, near oil platforms the fish were generally very spastic and deformed by pollutants in oil based mud, but this is rarely seen now, and fish seem to thrive.
Windfarms are generally so new, that an accurate statement might not be possible. but for the last few years I've surveyed the original windfarm in the Netherlands, and its neighbour, and have never seen a fish, which is bizarre considering it's just out from IJmuiden; a major Dutch fishing port.

Might underwater elements of wind structures be too simple? And oil rigs provide more hiding locations for fish?

 

[Ceirwan]

I've always imagined it to be heat, and vibration to a point. Both locations are unaffected by fishing, however the windfarm locations have only recently become unfishable zones, whereas the oil platforms have been for decades.
40 years ago, near oil platforms the fish were generally very spastic and deformed by pollutants in oil based mud, but this is rarely seen now, and fish seem to thrive.
Windfarms are generally so new, that an accurate statement might not be possible. but for the last few years I've surveyed the original windfarm in the Netherlands, and its neighbour, and have never seen a fish, which is bizarre considering it's just out from IJmuiden; a major Dutch fishing port.

I've caught plenty of Mackerel when I used to work on the crew transfer boats, so they definitely exist.

 

[jamie N]

Might underwater elements of wind structures be too simple? And oil rigs provide more hiding locations for fish?

On a monopile, yes, but so many WTG's are also 3-4 legged with 1,2 or 3 umbilicals coming from 'J'tubes.

I've caught plenty of Mackerel when I used to work on the crew transfer boats, so they definitely exist.

Yup, my thought was that the locations where I've mainly worked; Helgoland, Borkum and the Dutch/Belgian coast, had been so extensively fished, but hadn't yet recovered.
By the way though, fishing from a CTV was verboten at any windfarm I've ever worked on, due to the pollution from broken fishing lines, which are such an ROV hazard, to the point that 'we' wouldn't survey near an area where fishing line, or any rope debris is seen.

 

[Ceirwan]

Yup, my thought was that the locations where I've mainly worked; Helgoland, Borkum and the Dutch/Belgian coast, had been so extensively fished, but hadn't yet recovered.
By the way though, fishing from a CTV was verboten at any windfarm I've ever worked on, due to the pollution from broken fishing lines, which are such an ROV hazard, to the point that 'we' wouldn't survey near an area where fishing line, or any rope debris is seen.

This was some time ago now, I'm working on the Marine Coordination side of things these days.
I imagine its still quite common in summer when the vessels are tied off, 99% of the time there is no ROV operation on site.

 

[jamie N]

Yup, generally there's a "No Fishing" directive in place, but that's different to it being adhered to, especially on an OSS......