Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera evaluated the situation on Friday, noting that it is normal for some people to feel anxious during transitional periods. She advocated achieving maximum consensus for offshore wind projects, but only with the sectors directly affected, through the approval of Marine Area Management Plans. She also emphasized that ongoing, intensive monitoring is essential, including collaboration with other countries where offshore wind development is already underway. No negative effects were identified in the fishing sector.
During the inauguration of the Galician Offshore International Center in Ferrol, the third vice-president of the Government explained that residents involved in these initiatives had previously lived in an area with limited neighboring species. He cautioned against the assumption that new neighbors would not appear, underscoring the need to anticipate ecological and social changes rather than deny them.
Speaking to reporters, he noted that the development was approved after a lengthy delay, nearly two years, and that the final content reflected concerns and data drawn from multiple related disciplines.
Ribera argued that it is not valid to claim that the development of this sector is prohibited, suggesting that such a stance could clash with the legal framework in place.
She proposed integrating a range of actors into the relevant dialogue, stressing that the priority should be to build a new framework rather than dwell on differences among participants.
The Ecological Transition head acknowledged the importance of addressing emotional and cultural considerations regarding landscape impact, and urged continued work to secure progress that is widely agreed upon and compatible with other activities such as fishing.
In this regard, Ribera observed that the impact on the fishing sector is one of the most closely watched aspects in the global development of offshore wind energy.
She urged all interested parties not to neglect their responsibilities or act unlawfully, so that monitoring and compliance capacity can be strengthened in initial projects and the wind industry can also extract positive lessons from early experiences in this field.
Ribera stressed the goal of ensuring that coexistence remains positive and harmonious among different activities, to prevent wind projects from hindering growth outside the designated zones.
When questioned by journalists, Ribera warned that a failure to develop this sector would reflect a lack of institutional responsibility, an outcome she said would be unacceptable and difficult to justify. She indicated she did not share that part of the criticism and reaffirmed the need for accountable progress in offshore wind initiatives.