Fundy Force Launches New Environmental Monitoring Program

With tidal energy turbines set to go in the Bay of Fundy this year, the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy is enhancing its environmental monitoring efforts with a new $500,000 monitoring program at the Fundy Force site in the Minas Passage.

“We need to understand what effects in-stream tidal technologies may have on the marine ecosystem,” says Tony Wright, General Manager of Fundy Force. “If tidal energy is to grow to a larger scale, development must happen responsibly.” Wright also noted that Canada can set the global standard for marine monitoring in powerful tidal sites like the Minas Passage. “That’s not only an environmental obligation, that’s an economic opportunity.”

The program is designed to determine potential turbine effects on the marine environment with a focus on fish, lobster, marine birds, marine mammals, and acoustic effects. In the photo: marine mammal detection instrumentation ready for deployment in the Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy (source: Acadia University).

While early research in other jurisdictions suggests the effects of in-stream tidal turbines may not be significant, the Minas Passage remains a unique environment requiring further study. “Transparency is critical to our monitoring program,” adds Anne-Marie Belliveau, Director of Environmental Programs at Fundy Force. “Our commitment is to capture the data and make the results accessible to the public online.”

Fundy Force has also issued requests for proposals to conduct monitoring studies related to

• marine fish
• lobster catchability
• marine mammal data analysis
• marine seabirds

“Tidal energy holds tremendous potential for our province, both as a source of clean power and as an economic opportunity for our growing ocean technology sector,” says Nova Scotia Energy Minister Michel Samson. “Monitoring and sharing data are important in realizing this potential — providing industry, scientists, regulators and the public with more information about how the technologies are interacting with the natural environment.”

The $500,000 for environmental effects monitoring includes $250,000 from Fundy Force plus $250,000 from the Offshore Energy Research Association and the NS Department of Energy.