BERLIN/HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - The German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (Nabu) is accusing the offshore industry of positioning itself against marine nature conservation. This is according to a statement from Nabu in Berlin. The criticism is based on a position paper published this month by the German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries.

According to Nabu's assessment, the position paper by the Berlin-based associations calls for more areas for offshore wind energy and the laying of cables through the Sylt Outer Reef Marine Protected Area, among other things. Established planning and environmental criteria should be abolished, said Kim Detloff, head of marine conservation at Nabu.

In a statement, the BWO accused Nabu of misinterpreting the demands. In the paper, the associations are not calling for more offshore areas than previously, said a BWO spokesperson. Such a decision would have to be made by the responsible Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency in Hamburg./lkm/DP/nas