Environmental Effects of Marine Energy Development around the World

Biological/Ecological Effects, Geophysics/Hydrodynamics: Copping, A., L. Hanna, J. Whiting, S. Geerlofs, M. Grear, K. Blake, A. Coffey, M. Massaua, J. Brown-Saracino, and H. Battey (2013)

Annex IV Final Report.Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Ocean Energy Systems

Link: http://mhk.pnnl.gov/wiki/index.php/Final_Annex_IV_Report_2013

Two experts’ workshops were held in Dublin, Ireland (September 2010 and October 2012) to engage with international researchers, developers, and regulators on the scope and outcomes of the Annex IV project.

This Annex IV final report contains three case studies of specific interactions of marine energy devices with the marine environment that survey, compile, and analyze the best available information in one coherent location. These case studies address 1) the physical interactions between animals and tidal turbines; 2) the acoustic impact of marine energy devices on marine animals; and 3) the effects of energy removal on physical systems. Each case study contains a description of environmental monitoring efforts and research studies, lessons learned, and analysis of remaining information gaps.