What it is
In February, the Commonwealth Government released proposals for public comment on a massive 7,674 square kilometre area earmarked for potential offshore wind farm development off Geographe Bay.
Why it matters
In selecting the proposed area, zero consideration was given to the environment or fishing experiences. A significant proportion of the proposed area contains critical fish habitat including seagrass meadows and large areas of coral and sponge gardens, which among other things support dhufish spawning aggregations, and includes popular fishing areas such as Naturaliste Reef and FADs grounds.
What Recfishwest is doing
Recfishwest organised for the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to hold additional community consultation targeted at recreational fishers for the proposed Geographe Bay Offshore wind area. We wrote to the Commonwealth Minister for Energy and have raised this issue with the State Minister for Fisheries. We surveyed the fishing community and provided a comprehensive and informed submission on the proposed offshore wind area in Geographe Bay. Our recommendation to move the eastern boundary of the proposed determination area west to the 200-metre isobar will:
- Reduce conflict with fishers and important fishing areas;
- Avoid all documented key ecological features;
- Avoid impacts on corals, seagrass, seaweed and sponge gardens;
- Avoid known dhufish aggregation areas
- Retain the area of greatest wind speed and consistency for offshore energy projects; and
- Is large enough to allow the development of an offshore wind industry that can deliver the Government’s desired 20GW of energy.
What you can do
- Contact the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment urging him to support the position put forward in our submission.