Dong Energy has applied for permission to erect 78 turbines about five miles off the Yorkshire Coast between Flamborough and Spurn Point which, it is claimed, would create enough electricity to power a town of 150,000 people.

The proposals have been shown to both fishermen and members of the public at Bridlington, Hornsea, and Withernsea, near Hull.

But it is the Bridlington shell-fishermen who could be the hardest hit by the proposal.

Many of their lobster and crab pots lie in part of the area under consideration and they have already expressed their concern.

Dong Energy has also invited fishermen and residents to a series of meetings to try to allay some of their fears.

Just two months ago, the German powergiant E.ON announced plans to build 83 turbines in the same region, which is known as Westermost Rough, which would power almost 200,000 homes.

The worry among the shell-fishermen, who have already protested over high fuel prices and cheap lobster imports from Canada, is that so many turbines will mean they will be banned from areas they have been fishing for the past 50 years - and without any adequate compensation.

But Dong has denied that, assuring them that they will be able to continue fishing once the turbines have been erected.

Last month, Nikki Hale, chief executive of the Eastern England Fish Producers, which has members covering an area from Scotland to Essex, said the E.ON plan, in particular, was being viewed with increasing alarm by trawler crews and owners of smaller fishing vessels.

She was worried that the plan would adversely affect fishing activity.

She said: "Our members have mixed views about all this.

"There are going to be a lot of new pylons and we will not be able to fish near them."

And last week, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) voiced "disappointment and dismay" at the announcement by The Crown Estate on proposed sites under round three for offshore renewable energy development.

The NFFO says it has repeatedly expressed concern to Government departments on the lack of consultation at the primary stages of site selection.

Dialogue at an early stage could substantially reduce the cumulative effects on fishermen from loss of access to prime fishing grounds to other offshore activities.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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