Marine

Our Approach

Wave and tidal developments are developing rapidly and we have been working with the Scottish Government, industry and wider stakeholders to develop guidance and information for wave and tidal developers and their consultants.

Our work focuses on the development of guidance on the survey and monitoring of marine species and habitats, in advance of development, and on the collation of data on species distribution and behaviour. Our policy statement on marine renewables was developed in 2004 and will be reviewed and updated in the future as the environmental impacts of marine renewables are better understood: Marine renewable energy and the natural heritage: an overview and policy statement 

Guidance and information

Few wave energy or tidal stream generators have yet been developed, let alone monitored, so the detailed advice we can offer on their location or operation is limited.

Our general view is that outwith areas of high scenic or marine wildlife value, offshore wave and tidal stream generators may offer the potential to generate electricity with lower impacts on nature and landscapes than for land-based renewables. While many of the highest velocity tidal channels around the Scottish coast are important areas for nature, there are large areas of Scotland's waters where tidal movements, though slower than the tide-races, are still strong.

Impacts on marine species, such as mammals and basking sharks, marine habitats, seabird populations and coastal landscapes should be assessed for all types of offshore developments. Marine Scotland  is conducting a review of the information available on the impacts of offshore generators on nature and landscapes. Tidal barrage schemes are, in contrast, likely to have a high impact on the intertidal zone, which is important for feeding birds. Most of the major Scottish estuaries hold internationally important numbers of wildfowl, and contain land or intertidal areas designated as Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Birds or Habitats and Species Directives.

A large body of research is being commissioned, and guidance developed, by Scottish Natural Heritage and others through the Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group which has been set up by the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government commissioned a Strategic Environmental Assessment on wave and tidal energy in Scotland in 2006, which reported in 2007: Scottish Executive Marine Strategic Environmental Assessment 

Guidance on survey and monitoring for marine renewables

Draft guidance  on this topic is now available.  We are undertaking an informal consultation on this and would welcome feedback by 31 October 2011.

Contacts

To ensure a prompt response, all enquiries relating to offshore wind and marine renewables should be sent in the first instance to marinerenewables@snh.gov.uk.

Should you require to speak to a Renewable Energy staff member please use the contacts below: 

George Lees

Marine renewables research and guidance

george.lees@snh.gov.uk 01738 458621