Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what guidance is available to wind farm developers and operatives to help minimise impact on marine life of off shore wind farms.

The National Policy Statements for Energy (EN-1) and Renewable Energy (EN-3) set out how the developers of offshore wind farms should consider their impacts on marine life in any applications for development consent for them. Issue specific guidance on minimising the potential impacts of offshore wind farms on marine life is available from the relevant statutory nature conservation bodies [Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee] throughout the planning and development cycles of an offshore wind farm. The potential impacts of proposed projects on marine life and on other relevant issues will be considered in a public examination of any development consent application that is made.