Abstract
Abstract Tidal energy generators have the potential to injure or kill marine animals, including small cetaceans, through collisions with moving turbine parts. Information on the fine scale behaviour of animals close to operational turbines is required to inform regulators of the likely impact of these new technologies. Harbour porpoise movements were monitored in three dimensions around a tidal turbine for 451 days between October 2017 and April 2019 with a 12‐channel hydrophone array. Echolocation clicks from 344 porpoise events were localized close to the turbine. The data show that porpoises effectively avoid the turbine rotors, with only a single animal clearly passing through the rotor swept area while the rotors were stationary, and none passing through while rotating. The results indicate that the risk of collisions between the tidal turbine and porpoises is low; this has important implications for the potential effects and the sustainable development of the tidal energy industry.
Highlights
Anthropogenic structures in the marine environment are increasing in number with ongoing oil and gas extraction, and the expansion of marine aquaculture and renewable energy (Stojanovic & Farmer, 2013)
The results indicate that the risk of collisions between the tidal turbine and porpoises is low; this has important implications for the potential effects and the sustainable development of the tidal energy industry
This study reports on the effects of a tidal turbine on the behaviour of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) over an 18-month monitoring period
Summary
Anthropogenic structures in the marine environment are increasing in number with ongoing oil and gas extraction, and the expansion of marine aquaculture and renewable energy (Stojanovic & Farmer, 2013). Many tidal stream devices resemble small wind turbines mounted on the sea floor, and just as wind turbines pose acute risks to birds (Marques et al, 2014), tidal turbines have the potential to injure or kill marine animals through collisions with moving rotors (Onoufriou et al, 2019). Large animals such as marine mammals are considered to be vulnerable to the risks of collisions (Wilson et al, 2006). Many marine mammal species are highly vocal, using echolocation clicks to actively sense their environment (Au, 1993), and arrays of hydrophones can be used to detect and locate them underwater (Watkins & Schevill, 1972; Macaulay et al, 2017); it is possible to track
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