“The fishermen are not respected. Frankly, one has the impression that the profession is neglected. And necessarily, it exacerbates the tension. " This is how Lucas Teysseire, project manager at the Regional Committee for Fisheries in Normandy, sums up the anger that is mounting in some Norman ports, against the lack of communication from the promoters of three offshore wind farm projects, notably in Courseulles-sur -mer (Calvados), but also in Fécamp and Dieppe-Le Tréport (Seine-Maritime).
“Operations have been carried out for a few days in these areas without the fishing professionals being notified in time. Result: it happened several times that they go to a fishing area and find on arriving that they cannot fish because operations in preparation for the projects are underway! It is not possible… We must not only be warned but above all that we can discuss the periods of intervention of each other so that cohabitation goes as smoothly as possible, ”continues Lucas Teyssere.
Fishing activity may continue within the wind farm
As many arguments as refuted by EDF Renouvelables, one of the promoters of these parks: “We have been working since the beginning of our projects, that is more than 10 years, with Norman fishermen. The Fécamp project site, for example, was even chosen with the contribution of the fishermen, because it is an area of least constraint for fishing. We know there are always concerns about major projects, and it is normal to respond to them. But it must also be said that, in many other countries, fishermen do not have access to offshore wind farms, whereas here, fishing activity may continue within the wind farm ... even if the measures safety to be put in place during construction will make fishing impossible, ”says Daniel da Costa, project manager of the EDF subsidiary.
And yet, this concern for communication is clearly not resolved. It could even affect the already timid tolerance of fishermen towards these projects.
