Initiatives to Promote Coexistence Between Offshore Wind Power and Fisheries in Japan

Initiatives to Promote Coexistence Between Offshore Wind Power and Fisheries in Japan

In 2004, the Mitsubishi Corporation Group proposed a plan to install 31 wind turbines off the coast of Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, with the idea of utilizing the turbine foundations as artificial reefs to provide habitats for squid and rays. In the 2020s, 65 GE-manufactured wind turbines are being installed off the coast of Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, with a target capacity of 845 MW, and operations are scheduled to begin in December 2030. Off the coast of Noshiro City, there are plans to install 38 wind turbines with a target capacity of 494 MW, and juvenile red sea bream and Ezo abalone are being released into the area. Off the coast of Choshi City, 31 wind turbines are already in operation, promoting the coexistence of the local economy and the environment. Furthermore, wind power generation based on cooperation with fishermen is being promoted nationwide, including off the coast of Karatsu City in Saga Prefecture, and adjustments are underway in accordance with g
uidelines based on the Act on the Utilization of Marine Areas for Renewable Energy. These initiatives promote the coexistence of sustainable energy and fisheries, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.