Scallop fishermen protest at Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm

Fishermen are again protesting against the 496MW Saint Brieuc Saint Brieuc (496MW) Offshoreoff Saint-Brieuc, Brittany, France, Europe Click to see full details wind farm, by surrounding a construction vessel and setting off flares.

Protesters had targeted the English Channel site off Brittany in May, according to Ouest France, and have returned today (24 June).

France’s highest administrative court rejected an appeal against the project last December, paving the way for construction to start.

In order to avoid interfering with the local scallop fishing season, which finished at the end of April, offshore construction began in May.

But it was temporarily halted earlier this month, after Van Oord’s jack-up vessel spilled hydraulic fluid into the sea. The vessel was drilling and installing foundation piles at the site. 

Iberdrola expects Saint-Brieuc to be online in 2023.

But since it was successful at auction in 2012, the project has faced opposition from the fishing industry, environmental groups and local politicians, who have claimed it would damage the ecosystem and lead to job losses. 

Windpower Monthly has contacted Iberdrola for further comment.