NERC
Marine Renewable Energy
Knowledge Exchange Programme
Fisheries and Renewable Energy Working Group
About us
This project establishes a working group to provide the basis for quantification of ecological, social
and economic impacts of fisheries displacement and mitigation strategies at marine renewable
energy sites.
This fisheries displacement and mitigation working group is funded under NERC's Marine
Renewable Energy Knowledge Exchange (MREKE) programme. This programme aims to ensure
an environmentally sustainable future for the marine renewable energy sector by building stronger
partnerships between the academic, public, private and third sectors. Integration of the information
needs of policy, business and research in these partnerships enable a better understanding of the
risks and benefits of deploying renewable energy arrays in the marine environment.
Aim and objectives
The fisheries displacement and mitigation working group, through discussion and closer liaison,
aims to promote better understanding of problems on the ground and lead to more collaborative
research with industry. The key objectives of the group are:
• To facilitate engagement between scientists, energy companies and fishing organisations and
promote sharing of knowledge focussing on issues of common concern.
• To develop best practice for quantifying ecological, social and economic impacts of displacement
and design of mitigation measures for the whole life cycle of energy projects.
• To reduce lead times for integration of novel science into best practice and ensure future research
is appropriately scoped and focussed on resolving challenges faced by marine space users.
Activities
Within the working group, the following activities will be carried out:
• A scoping survey intended to make an inventory of research activity and identify key issues and
research topics in the fields of marine renewable energy and fisheries interactions.
• Workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange between the areas of marine renewable energy
development and fisheries, to identify priority research issues, knowledge gaps and collaboration
needs.
For further information please visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/marcopol and follow the MREKE link