Norway’s robust deep-sea fishing industry has issued a sharp warning against parts of the government’s offshore wind strategy.

In a formal response to the second round of the national impact study, Fiskebåt – representing 70% of the country’s catch value – argues that several proposed wind farm zones threaten vital spawning and fishing grounds.

The fishermen say areas like Sønnavind A and Sørvest E are too valuable to lose, with Sønnavind alone yielding nearly three times more seafood in 2024 than all other candidate zones combined. They call on the energy ministry to halt wind development in such hotspots.

Clash Between Fisheries and Energy

The government has pledged to install 30 GW of offshore wind by 2040. However, fishers fear that this will displace them from their traditional grounds, reduce catches, and harm marine ecosystems.

They point to earlier oil and gas developments, which often forced vessels away from productive zones.

Concerns Over Weakened Safeguards

Fiskebåt accuses Norway’s Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) of downplaying the importance of fisheries. While the Fisheries Directorate rated the industry as “particularly important,” NVE downgraded it to merely “very important.”

The group also questions why expert recommendations from Oslo Economics and SINTEF Ocean were set aside.

Knowledge Gaps and High Stakes

Fishers stress that too little is known about how floating and bottom-fixed wind turbines affect spawning grounds, species migration, and ecosystems.

They also reject NVE’s suggestion that exclusion of fishing near turbines could have positive effects, calling it “remarkable” given the risks of stock imbalances and higher CO₂ emissions from longer fishing trips.

Call for Caution

Fiskebåt urges the government to focus first on areas that are already open, such as Sørlige Nordsjø II and Utsira Nord, where conflicts are minor. They also want more state-led research before any new rounds of site auctions are conducted.

“The future of our seafood supply and coastal communities is at stake,” the group concludes.