Summary 

: The UK’s Fisheries Engagement Strategies Learned from 20 Years of Experience 

1. Fisheries engagement in the UK starts from the planning stage of site selection. Early engagement is crucial to minimize opposition and conflicts. In this regard, having high-quality data to support the process is essential.
   
   
2. Stakeholders are identified based on objective data. To be recognized as stakeholders, individuals must provide supporting evidence, such as fishing locations and fisheries/catch data. 
    
3. There is a case where a conflict arising from overlapping fishing zones and offshore wind sites has been resolved through research demonstrating that there is no significant impact on fishing activities. However, such cases are rare, highlighting the importance of proactively mitigating the potential impact on fisheries prior to the completion of site selection processes. 
    
4. There should be a platform or governance mechanisms, such as the Planning Inspectorate, that provide opportunities for stakeholders to access project information and submit their opinions at any time.