North Wales: Fishermen to grab tidal opportunity

Tidal energy developments will provide significant opportunities for the fishing sector in North Wales according a recent Marine Services Supply Chain Study.

The study was commissioned by Menter Môn, the third party manager for the Anglesey Tidal Demonstration Zone in order to identify local supply chain opportunities.

It was funded through the local FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) project and was undertaken by MarineSpace and Aquatera.

The study considered the following:

• Tidal energy industry requirements
• Vessels, skills and equipment needed to enable requirements
• Local supply chain ‐ vessels and skills currently available
• Options for collaboration between tidal sector and commercial fishing industry

Dafydd Gruffydd from Menter Môn said: “One of our objectives is to ensure that the local supply chain is fully aware of developments and able to respond to the opportunity. The study identified work to the value of £3.5 million which could be delivered by fishermen utilising their skills, marine experience and vessels at their disposal.”

Joseph Kidd from MarineSpace added: “We engaged widely with the tidal industry and local fishermen with a view to identify realistic short term services that could be delivered locally. This could involve supporting the consenting process as early as next spring.”

According to MarineSpace, Menter Môn will work with Welsh Government and the Gwynedd and Anglesey FLAG in order to identify additional support for the local fishing industry in order to maintain the momentum.

MarineSpace is a UK-based marine environmental consultancy which provides specialist advice and services to clients across a range of sectors.

The West Anglesey Demonstration Zone, a 37 km2 of seabed off the west coast of Anglesey has been designated by the Crown Estate for the development of up to ten renewable tidal power installations with a total cumulative production capacity of 120 MW.

Image: Green Marine