And the problem could become more drastic for all inshore fishing unless the Government takes action, according to the North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee.

The latest report of the committee highlights the plight of trawler fishing in the bay, and says that the local industry has been decimated by the proliferation of wind farms and gas storage facilities.

When local vessels, mainly fishing out of Fleetwood, are sold on they are now very rarely replaced in the bay.

And only a handful – mainly recreational fishermen – remain fishing off Morecambe.

Martin Boyce, fisheries' committee principal officer, said: "Government targets for renewable energy and the associated proliferation of offshore wind farms are having direct impacts on inshore fishing activity."

He explained that ships were being forced further out to sea to avoid the energy installations and that adaptations to allow them to do that were costly, forcing many to give up the business.