Strategic priorities for assessing ecological impacts of marine renewable energy devices in the Pentland Firth (Scotland, UK)

• Published in: Marine policy Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 635 - 642
• Main Authors: Shields, Mark A., Dillon, Lora Jane, Woolf, David K., Ford, Alex T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2009; Elsevier
• Series: Marine Policy
• Subjects: Benthic; Ecology; Environmental impact assessment; Environmental impact studies; Marine; Marine renewable energy; Marine renewable energy Environmental impact assessment Benthic Pelagic Pentland Firth; Marine resources; Pelagic; Pentland Firth; Renewable energy sources; Scotland; Technology; United Kingdom; ANE, British Isles, Scotland, Orkney; ANE, British Isles, Scotland; ANE, British Isles, Scotland, Highland, Caithness, Pentland Firth; Benthic; Environmental impact assessment; Marine renewable energy; Pelagic; Pentland Firth
• ISSN: 0308-597X; 1872-9460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2008.12.013

The Pentland Firth, located between the north coast of mainland Scotland (UK) and the Orkney Islands, is recognised as an excellent location for the utilisation of tidal stream technology. Potential ecological impacts associated with tidal stream technology may ultimately depend on device design, array size and deployment location. Available ecological data for the Pentland Firth is summarised and strategic priorities for assessing ecological impacts are provided. Baseline data on marine species and habitats in the Pentland Firth is severely lacking and consequently the integrity of any environmental impact assessment could be compromised by this lack of data.