Activities of Elena KOUNTOURA related to 2019/2158(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the impact on the fishing sector of offshore windfarms and other renewable energy systems
Amendments (12)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the EU’s sustainable commitment to achieving its zero-carbon climate target by 2050 at latest, as confirmed in the European Green Deal, the European Climate Law and the recovery plan;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. EHighlights that offshore wind energy is the most advanced and fast- growing of the emerging and innovative sectors of the blue economy; emphasises that renewable energy is a key driver of decarbonisation; recalls that at least 32 % of the EU’s total energy needs should be met by renewable energy by 2030;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the fact that the expansion of renewable energy sources enhances the EU’s energy security and decrease the imports of hydrocarbons from countries that do not respect the rule of law and have a record in the abuse of human rights;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses that the do no harm principle should be a key element of the new strategy and the Sustainable Taxonomy Regulation and should apply for future investments in offshore renewable energy schemes;
Amendment 31 #
4. Stresses that the decision to find space for up to 450 GW of offshore wind energy capacity is of the utmost importance; highlights that spatial expansion of offshore wind farm installations is accompanied by a sharp increase of conflict potential with other marine sectors, such as fisheries, over the next five years, especially in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that floating wind farms technology, capable of deployment in waters deeper than 60 metres have the potential to significantly increase the sea space available for offshore wind farms, especially in deep sea areas, such as the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Coast, without the constraints associated with turbines in shallower waters or closer to shore and to overcome some type of conflicts with other sectors; points out that floating wind farms could generate large amounts of energy, reduce visual impact, provide better accommodation for fishing and shipping lanes, act as fish aggregating devices and reach stronger and more consistent winds;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that a strong expansion of offshore wind energy production requires an intelligent approach to ensure its coexistence, co-location and cooperation with the activities that already take place in the affected areas; stresses that early stakeholder consultation, long- term planning and engagement of all relevant sectors, including local communities, but also research into potential synergies and selection of strategic solutions designed to prevent conflicts, as well as more localised solutions and measures for mitigating conflicts, such as compensation payments, creation of transparent guidelines and mutual agreements could contribute to the smooth expansion of offshore wind energy renewables;
Amendment 59 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Member States to promote the development of offshore wind investments under the scheme of energy communities which ensures public participation and acceptance;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the displacement of fishing activities can be very harmful to fisheries; stresses, therefore, that the multiple use of sea areas must be considered from the outset, and that offshore wind farms must be positioned in a way that takes into account the needs of the fishing sector; stresses that integrated place-based management approaches, such as marine spatial planning should be used to favour offshore wind energy project proposals that enable synergies, co-existence with fishing activities both spatially and temporally; points out that marine spatial planning processes should give high priority on the assessment of co- location; underlines the importance of the development of an EU best practice guidance on the implementation of mitigation measures to ease conflict potential between offshore wind farms and fisheries and to promote co-operation between sectors; notes that artificial reef effects inside offshore wind farms could improve the opportunities for sea angling and increase a market for tourism and recreational fisheries;
Amendment 75 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that long-term options for multiple uses of offshore areas must be explored at an earlier stage in order to enable the expansion of offshore wind farms while addressing their impact on fisheriesdirect and indirect impact on fisheries; highlights in this regard that co-design approaches for the co-location of offshore wind energy renewables with other uses can reduce the potential impact on fisheries, strengthen the relationship of the sectors of concern and enable beneficial co-operation between them;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission to collaborate closely with Member States and neighbouring countries on maritime spatial planning, with a view to optimising the use of sea space and cross- sector cooperation, and minimising spatial conflicts;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. CRecognises that existing knowledge on the impact of offshore renewable installations on fisheries is focused mainly on ecological and environmental impacts and that current case studies often neglected the assessment of future expansions of offshore wind energy sector; stresses that integrated and spatially assessments of cumulative effects of offshore wind farms are indispensable in order to inform strategic planning and marine conservation and enable a sustainable integration of human activities; calls on the Commission to carry out an impact assessment to examine the expected direct and indirect economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of constructing new offshore wind facilities in areas where they are likely to come into conflict with the fishing sector.