Offshore Wind Sparks Fisherfolk Backlash

October 23, 2025

The Philippines has an estimated 178 gigawatts (GW) of technical offshore wind (OSW) potential. As of April 2024, there are 92 offshore Wind Energy Service Contracts (WESCs) in the Philippines, accounting for nearly 65 GW of potential capacity. In long-term energy scenarios, cumulative OSW capacity in the Philippines could reach 50.1 GW by 2050 under a more aggressive clean energy path.

OSW displaces fossil fuel generation and thus reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. In the Philippines’ energy planning, integrating OSW is part of pathways to reduce reliance on thermal generation and hit national decarbonization goals. Pursuing indigenous renewable energy (RE) is also an effective way to strengthen energy security by reducing dependence on imported fuels. The government aims to bring its first OSW project online by 2028.

However, despite its environmental benefits, OSW is stirring controversy as communities warn of threats to both livelihoods and marine ecosystems.

(Also read: Advancing the Philippines’ Offshore Wind Ambitions)

Fishers fight back

A 1,000-megawatt (MW) OSW project led by Copenhagen Infrastructure New Markets Fund Corp. (CINMF) is set to rise in San Miguel Bay in Camarines Sur, spanning 23,000 hectares of coastal waters across Sipocot, Cabusao, Calabanga, and Tinambac, as well as Mercedes in Camarines Norte.

The site could host 110 to 160 turbines, while a 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and substation are planned to cut through Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Milaor, and Naga City. CINMF aims to break ground in late 2026 and begin operations by 2028.

Most of the waters targeted for the project fall within municipal fishing grounds reserved for small-scale fishers, yet residents say no public consultations have been held in the affected barangays. The lack of transparency has triggered concern online, with fisherfolk, their families, and coastal communities voicing fears over displacement and loss of access to their traditional fishing areas. An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 small-scale fishers in San Miguel Bay stand to be directly affected.

Adding to the burden is another OSW project planned for San Miguel Bay. Singapore-based NEXIF Ratch Energy aims to develop a 500-megawatt (MW) facility worth ₱90 billion, spanning more than 6,200 hectares of coastal waters. In March, the company secured a pre-development Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), moving the project one step closer to construction.

In April, fisherfolk in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte staged a fluvial protest to oppose the planned BuhaWind OSW farm, a 2,000-MW floating project costing ₱360 billion. Backed by Danish firm Copenhagen Energy and PetroGreen Energy of the Yuchengco-led PetroEnergy Resources, the project will span the coasts of Pasuquin, Burgos, Bangui, and Pagudpud, with turbines to be installed 1 to 18 kilometers offshore in waters 80 to 800 meters deep.

Data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) show that at least 6,339 registered fisherfolk across four Ilocos Norte municipalities stand to be affected, not counting those who are unregistered. The developer plans to prohibit fishing in the area for three years during construction, and even after completion, boats may still be barred from coming within 50 meters of each turbine, further shrinking traditional fishing grounds and endangering livelihoods.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) Vice Chairperson warned that the project would erase long-established fishing grounds and undermine the livelihood of coastal communities. “We recognize the importance of alternative energy sources to replace commonly polluting and unsustainable fossil fuels, but this should not violate the rights of fisherfolk and the environment,” he said.

Elsewhere, fishers are also pushing back against OSW. In India, plans to build the country’s first OSW project off Tamil Nadu have sparked alarm because the site lies within the ecologically rich Gulf of Mannar. Although touted as a step toward clean energy, local communities and environmental groups warn of high costs, environmental damage, and the absence of meaningful consultation.

In Taiwan, the government is aggressively expanding OSW as part of its climate strategy, with massive turbine farms now lining its western coast. Yet many longtime Taiwan Strait fishermen say the transition comes at a cost—shrinking fishing grounds, pollution, and a government that pushes projects forward without properly consulting those most affected.

In New England, USA, the Fisherman’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) staged a protest against OSW projects after debris from a fractured turbine blade washed up on local beaches. Fishermen voiced frustration over unanswered questions about turbine safety and ocean debris, calling on authorities to address their concerns.

(Also read: Spain & Portugal Blackout: What Really Happened?)

OSW hazards & impacts

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), OSW projects raise several environmental and social concerns, including potential harm to ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities in the Philippines.

Threat to biodiversity

Turbine placement in OSW projects can impact both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Wind turbine generators may disrupt seafloor habitats, displace marine species, and pose collision risks to migrating birds and bats. To reduce impacts, wind farms and export cables should avoid protected areas, and baseline surveys should map species, habitats, and migration paths to guide turbine layouts and buffer zones.

Electromagnetic fields from turbines and cables can interfere with marine navigation and hunting. Mitigation includes deeper burial of cables with protective mats. Construction should involve vegetation and wildlife surveys, with clearing minimized and coordinated with authorities like the DENR and Philippine Coconut Authority to limit erosion and ecological disruption.

Noise pollution

Construction of OSW foundations can generate significant underwater noise and vibration. This can harm sensitive marine species, causing hearing damage or disrupting migration. To reduce impacts, developers should coordinate with local communities and authorities, schedule noisy activities during the day, and use noise-reduction measures such as barriers or bubble curtains.

Economic displacement

High-potential OSW zones near Manila Bay, Tayabas Bay, and Guimaras lie close to fishing grounds and ports, putting local fishing and aquaculture—key sources of food and livelihood—at risk. Potential impacts include reduced access to fishing areas and economic displacement. Careful site analysis and strategic turbine placement are recommended to ensure vessels can still reach major fishing grounds and ports, minimizing interference to both subsistence and commercial fisheries.

Additionally, Eduardo Araral of the National University of Singapore pointed out that RE projects often entail higher development costs that, without subsidies, may be passed on to poor consumers—particularly those off the grid. He warned that expensive OSW infrastructure could deepen inequality, as low-income households in energy-poor nations like the Philippines already spend a large share of their income on electricity.

Community safety

OSW can hinder local maritime activity through interference with navigation, abnormal load transport, and shipping routes. OSW may also affect air traffic, potentially interfering with radar, navigation, and communication systems and increasing collision risks. Developers should study flight paths over each site and secure permits and clearances from the proper authorities to minimize aviation hazards.

Is the PH equipped to handle OSW?

Given OSW’s demanding requirements, many question whether the Philippines is equipped to handle this renewable source.

Manila Bulletin columnist Myrna Velasco noted that, beyond challenges in rate-setting and financing, the Philippines is lagging in developing the necessary port infrastructure to support OSW projects, with early studies falling short of expectations. “At the same time, critical ‘no-go zones’ for offshore wind, which should have been mapped out through marine spatial planning (MSP), remain conspicuously absent or inadequately communicated to investors,” she wrote.

Abante Tonite columnist Jeany Lacorte highlighted the difficult situation facing Filipino fishermen. She wrote that their livelihoods were first threatened when a Supreme Court ruling opened municipal waters to large commercial vessels, creating competition that small-scale fishers with tiny boats could not match. Reclamation projects further devastated their coastlines.

“Hindi sila masisisi kung ngayon pa lamang ay kinatatakutan na nila ang pagtatayo ng mga higanteng wind turbines sa mismong dagat na pinanggagalingan ng kanilang araw-araw na ikinabubuhay (So it’s no surprise that they are already afraid of the construction of giant wind turbines in the very seas that sustain their daily livelihood),” she stated.

Despite Ilocos Norte’s reputation as a hub for RE, residents have seen little benefit from these developments, according to environmental group Saluadan. Electricity generated by the province’s wind and solar farms is fed directly into the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and sold through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), a system that primarily advantages large corporations rather than the local population.

Saluadan emphasized that true progress should not come at the expense of local livelihoods or the environment. “Instead of displacing fisherfolk and destroying marine resources, the government should focus on providing meaningful support to fisherfolk–including modern fishing equipment and programs that genuinely strengthen their livelihoods,” it asserted.

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