Project description and objectives

Little is known about the impact of marine renewable energy installations upon both the marine environment, and those who use it.  Harnessing marine energy will involve the offshore emplacement of energy extraction devices, their associated infrastructure and scour protection.   Not only will this substantially modify seabed use and access for various stakeholders, but it will also alter the local seabed through the creation of secondary artificial reefs.  The reef-effect of these structures has received little attention in both the literature and Environmental Impact Assessments, yet will constitute new habitat which may in turn mitigate access loss. 

This research is highly inter-disciplinary, drawing together the fields of geography, ecology, socio-economics and policy.  It considers the emplacement of marine renewable energy devices and the extent to which they will modify seabed use and access.  It addresses the changes to habitat caused by these structures and how this can affect species abundance and diversity.  It also aims to understand the socio-economic effects of these changes, particularly upon the fishing industry. 

This work will contribute to the field of coupled socio-ecological systems, and to the key policy priority of Marine Spatial Planning.

Supervisors

• Dr Thomas A Wilding (Director of Studies), SAMS
• Dr Sheila JJ Heymans (Supervisor), SAMS
• Dr Tavis Potts (Supervisor), SAMS

Project funder

Supergen Marine Energy Research Consortium: ERDF & HIE

University

University of the Highlands and Islands & University of Aberdeen