The NFFO West Coast Committee has made substantial progress in establishing a working dialogue with the growing marine renewables interests in the Irish Sea, following a period of soured relations and misunderstandings.

The Committee observed at its recent meeting in Morecambe on 29th March that a new era of dialogue had opened up. The Committee has actively engaged with representatives of the West of Morecambe Fisheries Fund which is made up from a group of eastern Irish Sea energy developers (covering Walney 1&2, Ormonde and the West of Duddon Sands Developments). Progress had been made through a series of meetings towards establishing working arrangements for the fund to commence operation with the aim at supporting worthy fishing industry projects directed through a fishing industry advisory group. The Committee has also engaged in discussions on the planning of potential new wind-farm projects and successfully: