Transcript Slide 1

Marine Renewable Energy Development
and the Fishing Industry – impacts,
opportunities and the role of services
companies
Kieran Reilly
PhD candidate – Charles Parsons Award
Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Content
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Objectives of the presentation
Methods
Impacts and opportunities
Services company interview
Discussion of results
Concluding remarks
Future research
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
2
Presentation Objectives
• To examine the potential impacts and
opportunities of marine renewable energy
developments on the fishing industry.
• To discuss how services companies set up
by fishing organisations in the UK have
dealt with similar impacts and
opportunities.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
3
Methods
• Literature review on the potential impacts
and opportunities of marine renewable
energy developments on the fishing
industry.
• Services company interviews.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
4
Impacts and Opportunities
• Impacts – Loss of access, decreased
catchability, loss of gear, vessel collision
with devices.
• Impacts can result in conflict – Cape Wind
project.
• Opportunities – Artificial reef effect,
alternative employment.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
5
Interview
• In depth interviews using qualitative
questions.
• UK fishing organisations services
companies sampled were:
– National Federation of Fishermen’s
Organisations (NFFO) Services Ltd.
– Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF)
Services Ltd.
– Anglo North Irish (ANI) Offshore Energy
Services.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
6
Interview Topics
1. General company information
2. Services provided
3. Factors that motivated the establishment
of the company
4. The impact of changes in the fishing
industry on the company
5. Fisheries liaison work
6. Re-training and future plans
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
7
Services Companies
• NFFO Services established in 1984.
• SFF Services established in 1986.
• ANI Offshore Energy Services established
in 2012.
• To provide ad hoc services to offshore
marine industries.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
8
Results - Services Provided
• Guard vessels, chase vessels, survey
vessels.
• Fisheries Liaison and consultancy.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
9
Results - Contracting
• Work is sub contracted out to fishermen.
• Local fishermen and vessels are used in
areas where developments are taking
place.
• Most fishermen are still involved in
commercial fishing.
• Provision of services supplements income.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 10
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Results - Motivating Factors
• Alternative employment opportunities.
• The need to resolve conflict over use of
sea space.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 11
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Results - Changes in the fishing
industry
• Substantial regulation has reduced fishing
activity.
• The provision of services has become
increasingly important for fishermen.
• In some cases services contracts now
make up a significant part of fishermen’s
income.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 12
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Results - Liaison Services
• Role of a Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO) –
1.Disseminate information on offshore
developments to fishermen.
2.Facilitate an arrangement that is based on coexistence.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 13
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Results - Liaison Services
• BWEA has issued recommendations that
a FLO be used for all offshore wind
projects.
• ANI Offshore Energy Services are a
member of a Commercial Fisheries
Working Group.
• Established as part of the First Flight Wind
project.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 14
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Re-training
• Fishing organisations provide training
courses for members.
• Marine Mammal Observers (MMO).
• Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM)
operators.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 15
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Concluding Remarks
• Services companies have been providing
alternative employment for fishermen in
the UK for almost 30 years.
• Helped to ease conflict between the two
sectors.
• Model has already been adopted in
Canada and the US.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 16
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Concluding Remarks
• Irish South and West Fish Producers
Organisation have set up South West
Offshore Services.
• Potential for other Irish organisations to
adopt services company model to deal
with impacts and opportunities.
• Lack of projects and vessel re-surveying
legislation are main issues.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 17
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Future Research
• To examine the attitudes of Irish fishermen
towards marine renewable energy in
relation to the impacts and opportunities
outlined.
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 18
www.hmrc.ucc.ie
Thank you for your time and attention.
Questions or comments?
Kieran Reilly
[email protected]
Hydraulics & Maritime
Research Centre 19
www.hmrc.ucc.ie