PLAT-I Installation at Connel

[@ilyaqudryavtsev]

No idea, how it works?

[@MartynGM]

Do you have any information about testing or trials that will look for potential impacts of tidal energy devices - such as those planned or installed in the Sound of Jura and the Pentland Firth - on whales, dolphins, seals, basking sharks and other large marine fish and mammals. There may be ways of avoiding injuries with suitable cages as installed at sea-water inlets for nuclear power stations. Thanks, Martyn Murray, Lismore Nature Centre.

[@sustainablemarine4422]

Hi Martyn, we are going to be conducting acoustic monitoring at Connel in conjunction with SAMs, their suspicion is that the noise of the turbines will keep mammals away. There have been a lot of studies into this and the general consesus is that animals avoid the areas during high flow as it burns a lot of energy swimming in a current, and that applies to both the mammals and the other wildlife they are feeding on. We don't think there is need for cages as our machines do not appear to be causeing any injuries. You can read about the programme at Strangford Lough here srmprojects.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/SeaGen-Final-EnvMonitProg-Report-MCT-2011.pdf

[@MartynGM]

Thank you for your helpful response and link. The methodology in the Sea Gen Environmental Monitoring report appears to be sound and the results overall are reassuring, especially as regards the apparent accommodation of grey seals to the turbine in Strangford Lough. However, given that the Strangford Lough monitoring programme did not assess impacts on any of the Cetaceans that are common in UK waters other than the harbour porpoise, nor did it assess impacts on other kinds of large marine life that are common, such as basking sharks, but only grey and common (harbour) seals and porpoise, I would urge all involved in this industry not to assume that the unprotected turbines are safe to use in other locations, and to conduct further monitoring trials at locations where dolphins and whales are likely to make passage. Glad you and SAMs will be monitoring at Connel (not expecting any whales or dolphins there of course).

[@sustainablemarine4422]

Thanks for your response and pointers Martyn. Please be assured that no one in our industry is assuming anyhting when it comes to environmental impact. We are also held to very high standards by the governing bodise of the Marine Management Organisation & Marine Scotland when it comes to quantifying impact. Alot of work is going into this inthe industry, it is just not necessarily as public as the structures themselves, and also the duties of academic rigour contribute to the results of research projects taking time to promulgate. There are also organisations such as teh Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult conrtibuting to these processes, and you can read more here ore.catapult.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tidal-turbine-collision-sensor-development-requirements-report.pdf