Original Korean article: 경인일보
Residents of five West Sea islands and Incheon fishermen's associations have signed a mutual cooperation agreement to protect maritime transit rights and fishing grounds from indiscriminate expansion of offshore wind farms.
The groups are opposing projects planned for fishing zones 151 and 152, citing the significant reduction of blue crab fishing grounds in zone 153, where companies including Ørsted and Korea Southern Power are currently developing offshore wind projects. The blue crab fishery, a major source of livelihood for local fishermen, has been substantially impacted by existing development in the area.
Beyond fishing concerns, the residents and fishermen have raised additional safety issues regarding the offshore wind farms. They are concerned about potential radio interference that the wind turbines may cause to military emergency evacuation routes and naval safety corridors in the region.
The opposition reflects broader concerns about the scale of planned offshore wind development in Incheon waters, with a total of 10,285 megawatts of capacity currently planned for the area. The groups argue that such large-scale expansion without proper consideration of local impacts represents reckless development that threatens both their livelihoods and regional security.
