The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has expressed concerns about the approval of the Dudgeon and Sheringham extensions off Norfolk, stating that the projects will impact vital colonies of amber-listed seabirds in the area.
The offshore wind projects, developed by Equinor, recently received development consent from the UK Government. In response, the RSPB highlighted the potential impact on seabird populations, particularly Sandwich Terns from North Norfolk.
Katie-jo Luxton, the RSPB's director of conservation, emphasized the importance of offshore wind in decarbonizing energy systems but raised concerns about the lack of consideration for marine nature in the planning of these wind farms. Luxton stated, “The lack of proper consideration of marine nature in planning these wind farms is forcing internationally important seabird populations to pay a heavy price.”
Luxton further explained that seabird populations, including Guillemots and red-listed Kittiwakes, are already being negatively impacted by offshore wind farms in the southern North Sea. The approval of the Dudgeon and Sheringham extensions will add more pressure on struggling seabird populations that feed off the North Norfolk coast.
“Protecting our under-pressure seabird populations and degraded marine environment, itself central to mitigating climate change, must be at the heart of all decision making,” Luxton emphasized. She called for political leadership and a planning system that avoids sensitive areas from the start to address these issues effectively.
