Fishing and offshore wind

Sharing the waters safely

We believe that many types of fishing, including recreational fishing and boating, can continue alongside an operational wind farm.

We know from looking at other offshore wind projects around the world that it is possible, but every country has its own regulations.  

The Offshore Infrastructure Regulator is responsible for regulating offshore wind projects in Commonwealth waters under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021

To understand what sharing the waters in Bass Strait could look like, we’ll use international learnings and work with local fishers to understand how, when and where they fish.

Construction

Before a project can start construction, planning and a range of approvals are needed - including consultation with fishers on how we plan to manage and communicate construction activities.

Typically, designated construction areas are marked with buoys and communicated widely, with advice to stay clear of these areas. Turbines are installed progressively, with designated construction zones shifting as construction progresses. Once sections are completed and deemed safe, they are opened up for access.

Fishers will not be excluded from whole sites for the whole construction period - we'll leave as much of the area open for use as possible. It's about keeping everyone safe.

Fish surveys

We’ve completed investigations to understand the different fish species in and around the project area. Over both summer and winter periods we found more than 6,000 fish across over 120 species using three survey methods.

They involved taking underwater videos, Danish Seine and Gillnet surveys at more than 130 sites. Danish Seine is a commercial fishing technique that mainly catches flathead and whiting. Gillnet uses a net set at the bottom of the ocean to catch small shark species.

Watch a video on our fish surveys.