This notice clarifies the situation concerning the safe conduct of fishing and angling activities within the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Site. The notice has been issued promote safe operations and provide advice on certain safety issues.
Mariners are advised to observe safety precautions that apply to all vessels operating within the wind farm site:-
- Construction vessels – there will be a 500m safety exclusion zone around any construction vessels working on the site. A Notice to Mariners will be issued prior to any construction work taking place. Please also be aware that construction vessels may be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre, and navigate accordingly.
- Monopiles and offshore substations – during any periods of maintenance, we ask all mariners to observe a 50m safety zone around maintenance vessels and any monopiles or offshore substations where work is taking place. These safety zones are requested in order to promote the safety of all vessels, their crew and passengers.
- Submarine cables – there are submarine cables running between the turbines within the wind farm area and also connecting the wind farm to the shore. Every effort has been taken to bury these cables. Mariners are advised that in some locations cable burial has not been possible, and at these locations the cables have been protected with rocks.
- Navigation flags, lights & shapes – all vessels should display the appropriate flags, lights or shapes to indicate whether or not they are engaged in fishing activities (if you have any doubts about the symbols to display, please contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency here).
- Access to, mooring to, or attaching items to any offshore structures within the wind farm area is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
More information has been provided for anglers in a briefing note that can be downloaded here.
For your convenience, the location of the Liverpool Bay wind farms, wind turbines, and substations can be found in Kingfisher Awareness Charts for:-
- Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm here.
- Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm here.
- North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm here.
Information about other wind farm sites, and also fishing plotter files showing the location of wind farms in the Irish Sea can be downloaded from the Kingfisher Information Services Offshore Renewables & Cables Awareness website here.
Information about the current and proposed maintenance activities on the Gwynt y Môr windfarm site is circulated in e-mail bulletins. You can find a list of all recent updates here, and sign up for free updates here.
Please contact Jim Andrews, Fishery Liaison Officer by e-mail or phone (+44(0)7908-225865) if you have any queries or concerns about this notice.