Plans for a wind farm project along the Galician coast sparked renewed debate about whether offshore energy should be pursued there. Generating renewable power is seen by many as a prudent approach for the sector, highlighting a connection that goes beyond economics to the community of fishing and sea users. Proponents of the Nordés park, which aims to install 80 floating turbines about 30 kilometers off the Ártabra coast, argued this week that the project would have minimal visual impact on the landscape from both the shoreline and the main coastal towns and tourist hotspots such as beaches and vantage points.
Yet the discussion extends beyond sightlines. It also examines effects on fishing and seabird populations, particularly since the Galician coast is a corridor for migratory birds. To explore these concerns, the Fremss Foundation for a Sustainable and Social Minimum Economic Income hosted a conference in A Coruña this year with participants from Blue Float Energy and the project’s financiers, SENER. They argued that offshore floating wind power enables installations farther offshore and allows wind turbines to be removed at the end of their life, unlike fixed platforms that often leave foundations on the seabed and pose higher dismantling costs.
During the May intervention, park supporters stressed that their bids were not closed and thus remain open to adjustments in line with evolving regulations and ongoing dialogue with affected sectors. They described the project as an opportunity for fishing communities, noting a proposed “sanctuary effect” that could boost species density and size in the surrounding area.
Torcuato Teixeira, Fremss secretary and vice president of the A Coruña Fish Market, argues that Galicia already surpassed its renewable electricity targets for 2030 back in 2020 and that there is no need to sacrifice local fisheries or the enclave’s biodiversity to pursue offshore wind farms.
Environmental biologist Tonio Nogueira echoed those concerns, warning of unforeseen impacts on marine ecosystems, migratory birds, marine mammals, coastal productivity, and artisanal fisheries. Antonio Sandoval, who coordinates SEO/BirdLife Iberian Seabirds Group in Galicia, emphasized that the area hosts more than a million sensitive seabirds regularly passing through. He pointed out that wind farm installations could threaten species such as the Balearic shearwater, which is critically endangered in Spain.
Sandoval also highlighted that poor visibility conditions can lead birds to mistake tall structures for safe features, increasing collision risks. Studies indicate that millions of birds travel across the Atlantic during migratory seasons, with estimates of 168 million in spring and 233 million in fall. Among the major potential impacts on birds and other marine life are collisions, noise disturbances, electromagnetic interference, turbine vibrations, and the possible need for migratory routes to adjust during construction and operation. The so-called barrier effect could impede birds’ movements between feeding and resting areas, and there is concern about habitat quality loss and light pollution.
Given these concerns, the organization advocates a careful, respectful approach to deploying renewable energy projects. Marta García Pérez, a professor of Administrative Law at the Universidade da Coruña, underscored the need for regulatory norms to govern the procedure for establishing such parks. Mercedes Rodríguez Moreda, the Director General of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Technological Innovation, stressed the importance of coexistence between wind farms and fishing activity. Itziar Martín, deputy director general for Marine Protection, likewise emphasized balanced planning to safeguard marine life and livelihoods. These perspectives underscore the complex balancing act required to align environmental, economic, and social objectives in offshore energy development. [Citation: Fremss / SEO/BirdLife Iberian Seabirds Group / Universidade da Coruña]