This report explores the growth prospects for the ocean economy, its capacity for future employment creation and innovation, and its role in addressing global challenges. Special attention is devoted to the emerging ocean-based industries in light of their high growth and innovation potential, and contribution to addressing challenges such as energy security, environment, climate change and food security.

Despite robust research, prototype development and demonstration of in-stream tidal energy devices, progress to the commercialization stage has been slow. Some of this can be attributed to a lack readiness or financing.

The adoption of UN Convention of the Law of the Sea in 1982 created optimism for indigenous peoples and marginalised coastal communities that they may (re)gain control of, or improve access to, marine resources.

This paper explores the role of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in advancing the 'Blue Economy'.

This Report describes and summarizes the outcomes of a stakeholder and community engagement program implemented as the second stage of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) for the Cape Breton Coastal Region and the Bras d’Or Lakes.

Successfully implementing tidal-based marine renewable energy projects in Nova Scotia will largely depend on the level of community engagement. However, in most instances community and stakeholder engagement is poorly planned and underfunded. The Tidal Energy Community Engagement Handbook was developed to support community and stakeholder engagement for the Community Feed-in Tariff program and to specifically support those projects related to tidal energy development.

The Community and Business Toolkit for Tidal Energy Development contains a series of modules that describe opportunities and strategies for communities and businesses to become involved in tidal energy development.

This thesis presents a cost-benefit analysis of tidal power generation with specific reference to the installation of a 300MW tidal farm in the Minas Passage, in Nova Scotia, in 2020, as a case study. Nova Scotia has set aggressive targets to increase the share of renewables in the province’s electricity generation mix and tidal energy is considered to be the ―sleeping giant‖ amongst renewable energy sources

Rural maritime communities are often located at the end of the line; adjacent to abundant marine resources but unable to transmit power due to ageing electrical infrastructure designed to transmit power from large thermal power plants. This paper draws experience from communities located adjacent to Grand Passage and Petit Passage, Nova Scotia and could be applied to similar maritime communities such as the Isle of Islay in Scotland.

Miscellaneous, Socio-economics: Portman, Michelle and Fishhendler, Itay (2011)

Socio-economics: Jeffrey, Henry and Sedgwick, Jonathan (2011)

The Bay of Fundy is rich source of tidal energy. Nova Scotia is turning its attention to this resource to reduce its reliance on coal and for economic development. Socioeconomic research is needed to help develop this nascent industry. The potential goes beyond green energy: with the involvement of universities, development of world-class expertise can be achieved.

This article describes the policy framework for siting, permitting, and developing offshore renewable energy facilities in the United States. It also highlights features of regulatory programs in other countries and makes some comparisons. Initially, the article presents a brief historical background of US regulatory development, and then it provides a synopsis of the more salient features of the federal siting and permitting program, followed by descriptions of policy frameworks in three other countries—the United Kingdom, Germany, and Portugal.

Socio-economics: Ernst & Young LLP. (2010)

In British Columbia and throughout Canada there is growing interest in the development of renewable ocean energy projects (ROE) that rely on tidal, wave, and wind energy.