with Marcus OhmanSLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Stockholms Universitet
As offshore wind energy expands rapidly, our seas are becoming increasingly crowded with competing interests. How can we balance renewable energy development with fisheries, biodiversity, and other human activities at sea?
In this talk, Marcus Öhman explores the challenges and opportunities of managing trade‑offs and enabling multi‑use practices in offshore wind farm areas. Drawing on decades of experience with offshore wind and marine ecosystems, the presentation examines how large offshore structures fundamentally change seascapes—and what this means for fisheries, navigation, spatial planning and ecological processes.
The talk highlights real‑world examples of conflicts between offshore wind farms and traditional fishing practices, but also points to emerging solutions. These include alternative fishing methods, improved spatial planning, collaboration between industries, and the potential for offshore wind farms to function as de facto marine protected areas. Particular attention is given to the concept of ecological engineering and the use of artificial reef structures to enhance biodiversity and fish abundance under the right management goals.
This session is relevant for engineers, planners, policymakers and stakeholders working with offshore wind, marine spatial planning and sustainability. It offers a nuanced, evidence‑based perspective on how offshore wind areas can be designed and managed to support multiple uses—while acknowledging the regulatory, ecological and social complexities involved.
