A framework for categorizing the interactions of offshore windfarms and fisheries

摘要: The offshore windfarm industry has great potential for sustainable energy but requires space. The ability of fisheries to harvest within these windfarms varies. This has created a conflict between these two industries and discussions are hampered by differing approaches to the marine environment, a lack of understanding of what each industries requires, the significant money at stake, and the values the public place on marine conservation. To characterize, standardize, and quantify the scientific data addressing these concerns requires a framework. The framework should categorize data on spatial scales of 1 cm2 to 1 km2 (individual turbines/fishing vessels), 1–1000 km2 (companies), and >1000 km2 (regions), and by their ecological, economic, cultural, and institutional impacts. The framework should be repeated over temporal scales of the windfarm: pre-development (1–3 years), construction (1–2 years …