What assessment has the Welsh Government undertaken of the potential for wind farms to become sanctuary areas for marine conservation efforts due to minimal seabed disturbance?
The potential marine conservation benefits from the installation of offshore windfarms, where other damaging activities could be displaced from areas around the base of wind turbines, are an area of interest for Welsh Government. Whilst no assessment has yet taken place, this reduced activity has the potential to provide enhanced resilience to marine ecosystems within these areas. Welsh Government are interested in the development of this evidence base, however, we are currently prioritising Marine Protected Area network management and network completion programmes, which will improve marine conservation across a wider range of areas.