Projects

A snapshot of NiMa’s project experience is provided below. Our team has worked across an extensive portfolio, covering projects both in the UK and globally. As a result of this, we have experience of working with diverse clients, across various consenting regimes and in contrasting marine and coastal environments.

Arven Offshore Wind Farm

Arven Offshore Wind Farm is a ScotWind floating offshore wind farm project in the early stages of development. The NiMa team are working in a dual role across the project, providing both commercial fisheries EIA services and acting in a lead role within the Arven consents team. The team additionally provided early advice to the project during the Crown Estate Scotland leasing process, identifying key commercial fisheries sensitivities. The Arven project plans to be operational in the early 2030s.

Arven Offshore Wind Farm: Advancing towards sustainable energy production with ScotWind project development

Finnish Baltic Herring

Finnish Baltic herring is currently Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified, with NiMa staff providing the Principle 2 (ecosystem impacts) expertise for the fourth year surveillance audit and full re-assessment. This involved assessment of the Finnish pelagic trawl and coastal fish trap fisheries that target herring during their seasonal migrations.

The Principle 2 aspect of MSC certification assesses a range of components and performance indicators relates to the interaction of the fishing gear with the marine environment. This includes all other species caught by the fishery covering species that are landed and/or discarded, interactions with endangered, threatened and protected species, habitat impact and wider ecosystem effects.

Finnish Baltic Herring: Sustainably certified by MSC with expertise from NiMa staff

ScotWind

ScotWind is a leasing round providing opportunity for companies to secure rights to develop and operate offshore wind projects in specified areas, contributing to Scotland’s renewable energy goals and supporting the growth of the offshore wind industry in the region.

NiMa are providing commercial fisheries expertise to a number of ScotWind projects, including undertaking the commercial fisheries environmental impact assessments, developing fisheries management and mitigation strategies and progressing coexistence solutions across these sectors. NiMa are currently providing advice to approximately ten ScotWind projects.

ScotWind presents a unique range of challenges for commercial fisheries, given the proposal to use floating foundations within many of the ScotWind sites.

ScotWind Leasing Round: Empowering offshore wind development and nurturing co-existence solutions

Morecambe Offshore Wind Farm Generation Asset

Morecambe Offshore Wind Farm Generation Asset has recently submitted its preliminary environmental information report, which precedes the consent application. The NiMa team undertook the commercial fisheries impact assessment for the project, including an extended baseline technical report. The team will continue to support the project through the examination and consent determination process.

Morecambe Offshore Wind Farm: Advancing towards consent application submission with comprehensive environmental assessment

Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm

Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm is currently in construction off the east coast of Scotland. The NiMa team supported the project through EIA, providing commercial fisheries advice, and during post-consent compliance. Compliance activities have included acting as Environmental Clerk of Works during construction, preparing a Fisheries Management and Mitigation Strategy and developing and undertaking a programme of commercial fisheries monitoring. The project became operational in 2023/24.

Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm: Powering Scotland’s future as construction nears completion