Danish Fishermen Secure Compensation Over Offshore Wind Restrictions

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Danish fishermen receive DKK 4 million compensation over Vesterhav offshore wind fishing restrictions affecting operations, navigation and long-term access

Agreement Covers Construction, Operation And Dismantling Periods

Danish fishermen will receive just over DKK 4 million in compensation, approximately €536,000 or £460,000, for fishing restrictions linked to the offshore wind farms Vesterhav Nord and Vesterhav Syd.

The compensation follows an agreement between the Danish Fisheries Producers’ Organization (DFPO) and energy company Vattenfall and applies to restrictions imposed during construction, the full operational lifetime and eventual dismantling of the two offshore wind farms.

The agreement covers limitations on fishing and navigation in and around the wind farm areas, including prohibitions on bottom-trailing fishing gear and anchoring within a 200-metre safety zone around turbines and subsea cables, as required under the Cable Executive Order. Temporary, wider restrictions will also apply during the dismantling phase.

The compensation package applies from the construction phase through 25 years of operation following grid connection, plus an additional 18 months covering dismantling activities.

Fishing Sector Cites Long-Term Impact On Operations

Svend-Erik Andersen, chairman of the Danish Fisheries Producers’ Organization, said the agreement reflects both the scale and duration of the restrictions imposed on fishermen.

“With this agreement, we ensure predictability for fishing around the North Sea and the western part of the Baltic Sea. These have been difficult negotiations, but I am satisfied that Vattenfall is meeting the requirements for operators to compensate fishermen for the inconvenience they experience from large offshore installations. This is an agreement that is fundamentally important,” Svend-Erik Andersen said.

The DFPO will receive the compensation on behalf of the affected fishermen and is responsible for distributing the funds.

Wind Developer Points To Cooperative Approach

Vattenfall has described the agreement as part of its wider approach to managing the impacts of offshore wind development.

Allan Overbeck, chairman of the boards of Vesterhav Nord and Vesterhav Syd and responsible for Vattenfall’s offshore wind operations in the Nordic region, said: “The Vesterhav wind farms are an important part of the green transition. The agreement with DFPO reflects a constructive collaboration where we take responsibility for the impacts that construction and operation entail.”

Wind Farms Operational Since 2023

Vesterhav Nord and Vesterhav Syd were constructed between 2023 and 2024 and are expected to operate for at least 25 years. The agreement also establishes a framework for how fishermen will be informed about restrictions throughout the lifespan of the projects.

While the compensation provides financial certainty, the agreement also underlines the long-term spatial constraints offshore wind developments place on the fishing industry, particularly for vessels reliant on bottom-towed gear.