September 27, 2021
France

French fishermen erupt at Macron over hated Normandy project

By Ewan Boyle | Express | Sat, Sep 25, 2021 | "French fishermen erupt at Macron as Le Pen cashes in on hated Normandy project" www.express.co.uk

Protestors had gathered on Friday in an attempt to voice their concerns against the plans for the wind projects. The protests took place in Le Havre and Cherbourg, with the protestors being made up of predominantly fishermen.

The protestors believe that the plans for these wind projects are an ecological disaster, having an impact on both marine biodiversity and their economic activity.

Speaking to Europe 1, a protestor said: “They are going to kill everything. They are going to kill an artisanal industry, it’s catastrophic.

The fisherman continued: “What we are asking for is a moratorium on wind farm projects.”

Another interview expressed concerns about what may come ecologically from these wind projects.

“We are always at sea. We know what happens at the bottom. In terms of biodiversity, it will be catastrophic.”

The fishermen blocked the port of Le Havre in protest against the offshore wind projects.

It is estimated that around forty fishing boats were able to block the port of Le Havre.

Another protest is also expected to take place in Cherbourg, which is home to another area where wind projects are planned to be built.

One protestor said: “These are the two cities in which the factories that build wind turbines are located.”

Mathieu Vimard, deputy director of the Norman fishermen’s organisation, has also explained what the fishermen are wanting to happen following these protests.

He said: “It is now time that, with the existing ones, we study in a very detailed way the consequences and the benefit / risk ratios of wind turbines on the seabed.

“We couldn’t do it when the projects were launched ten years ago, but today it is possible.”

Director of the regional fisheries committee, Dimitri Rogoff has supported the views of Mathieu Vimard as he said: “No study has shown us that there would be no impact on biodiversity.”

Marine Le Pen also took to Twitter to stand in unity with the fishermen of France.

She tweeted: “All my support for the fishermen who courageously oppose offshore wind projects.

“Elected President of the Republic, I will immediately deconstruct wind farms on land and at sea and remove all subsidies for wind power.”

Jérémy Legaillard, a fisherman in Port-en- Bessin, spoke at the protest saying: “It is first and foremost the wind turbines, which will deprive us of new fishing areas, but we are also worried about our future in the Anglo-Norman fishing areas.