Integrating ecological and economic viability to inform the co-location of offshore wind and fisheries

The rapid expansion of offshore wind farms (OWFs) in the Southern North Sea is displacing and reducing traditional fishing activities. Regulated co-location of passive gear (particularly pot) fisheries, has been proposed as a potential marine spatial planning (MSP) strategy to mitigate these impacts. However, suitable OWFs for such co-location remain unidentified, the number of vessels currently using pot gear in the German fleet is low, and transitioning from trawled to passive fisheries requires investment. In addition, international pot fishing in the North Sea is changing, potentially impacting fishing dynamics and spatial competition.We developed a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to evaluate the long-term viability of co-locating pot fisheries with OWFs in the German exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the North Sea by integrating OWF characteristics, fisheries data and expert judgement. We further evaluated the potential for German bottom-trawl vessels to transition to pot fishing and analysed international pot fishing activity to understand implications for co-location.OWF bottom habitat and distance to harbours emerged as key determinants of co-location viability. Twelve OWFs were ecologically and economically favourable, although not located in optimal habitats for brown crab and European lobster. Most small German beam trawl vessels could transition to pot fishing with gear changes and increased storage facilities. British and Irish pot effort has significantly shifted toward suitable OWF clusters, though without current spatial overlap with German potters. Our MCDM framework offers a transferable tool for evidence-based MSP, but knowledge gaps on OWF effects on target species remain barriers to sustainable co-location.