the potential for cooperative management of elasmobranchs and offshore renewable energy development in uk waters

Abstract

the uk government's strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet carbon mitigation obligations and the wider aims on sustainable development has provided the impetus for a rapid growth in activity associated with offshore renewable energy, particularly offshore wind farms. recently, consents for offshore renewable energy development (ored) were approved in three strategic areas—the outer thames estuary, the greater wash and the eastern irish sea. the scale of the planned developments means that each will have a large environmental footprint and multiple ored will have a cumulative effect on the environment. here we discuss current understanding of ored construction, operation and decommissioning with regard to the potential interaction with elasmobranchs because of the worrying status of elasmobranch populations within the uk coastal zone. based on the likely interactions between elasmobranchs and ored a framework is proposed which aims to promote cooperative initiatives between elasmobranch conservation management and the offshore renewables industry.