Advancing Tidal Research Initiatives for Nova Scotia

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1 Issue 3 Spring 2011 Advancing Tidal Research Initiatives for Nova Scotia Cape Split on Flood Tide Photo Credit: Colin Buhariwalla, Acadia University In this issue of Currents OEER Association (OEER) is pleased to introduce new projects that have recently begun or are soon to begin. This includes the announcement of funding for two new projects from OEER s recent Request for Proposals (RFP) on Tidal Energy Research. New OEER projects also include a Strategic Environmental Assessment Phase II, a Tidal Resource Assessment of southwest Nova Scotia, and a Mi kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study Phase II. More details on these projects are found in the following pages. New Tidal Energy Research In October 2010, OEER and Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) held a Tidal Energy Workshop in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The objective of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for researchers to present and discuss the status of research currently being undertaken in relation to tidal energy in Nova Scotia, and related findings to-date. The meetings provided guidance in determining important remaining questions concerning the environmental impacts of tidal energy. As a result of this workshop, priority areas of research were identified and OEER released a new Request for Propoals that addresses topic areas in relation to Tidal In-Stream Energy Conversion (TISEC) devices, specifically:

2 Page 3 Page 2 Tools to study fish movements and turbine interactions; Options for fish survey and sampling in high flow environments; Marine mammal activity patterns; Benthic habitat; Potential inshore area impacts (e.g. tidal creeks, marshes, intertidal flats); Potential submerged ice movements and risks; and Flow interactions with turbines. An RFP was issued in March 2011 and all proposals have now been received. The RFP was divided into two stages; proposals with a Spring 2011 field season were due April 8, 2011 and proposals without a Spring 2011 field season were due May 2, Two projects were awarded funding for the first round of proposals and results on the second round will be announced soon. The two projects that were awarded funding are described below. Acoustic Tracking of Fish Movements for the Assessment of Effects of Tidal Energy Devices in the Minas Passage Project Team: Dr. Michael Stokesbury and Dr. Anna Redden, Acadia University How do migratory fish use the Minas Passage as they move in and out of the Minas Basin? What is their risk of interaction with tidal turbines? The study involves the detection of movements and depth preferences of tagged migratory fish, and includes four high profile fish species: American eel (see Figure 3), Atlantic sturgeon (see Figure 2), Atlantic salmon (smolts) and striped bass (adults and juveniles) (see Figure 4). Tagging of fish is taking place in the nearshore waters of the Minas Basin and its river estuaries (Stewiacke/Shubenacadie and Gaspereau). The main aims of the project are: 1) To define the movement patterns (path, velocity, depth, seasonality and number of passes) of tagged fishes passing through the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) turbine demonstration area, and through two Minas Passage receiver lines ( listening gates ), located east and west of the FORCE demonstration area (see Figure 1 for the location of the moored VEMCO receivers); This multi-species tagging program uses hydro-acoustic tracking technology to help assess the risk of fish turbine interactions in the mega-tidal, high flow environment of the Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy. By using VEMCO electronic transmitting tags surgically implanted in fish, the research team is trying to answer the following questions: Figure 1: VEMCO receiver positions in the Minas Passage for detection of tagged fish in 2011 Figure 2: Atlantic sturgeon in Walton Weir Photo Credit: Aaron Spares 2) To assess fish mortality (acoustic tags settling to the bottom substrate), if any, and avoidance behaviour of tagged fishes moving in close proximity to TISEC devices; Figure 3: Collecting eel with a Fyke net 3) To couple the fish detection data with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data and the hydrodynamic models for the region to predict the risk of fish interaction with test turbines and, potentially, turbine arrays. The project is being conducted in 2 phases. The Baseline Phase extends the fish tracking study that commenced in 2010; 120 fish were tagged, with 110 fish detected by VEMCO receivers moored in Minas Basin and Minas Passage. Each receiver records data transmitted by tags that identify the individual tagged fish, the date and time, and the depth of the fish as it passes near a receiver that is moored at a known location (within a 500 m distance). Most of the needed infrastructure for detection of tagged fish was previously Figure 4: The striped bass tagging team (Jeremy Broome, Colin Buhariwalla and Peter Porskamp) implanting a VEMCO acoustic tag in a striped bass on the Minas Basin shore near Grand Pré

3 Page 4 Page 5 procured and was re-deployed in the Passage in Spring The Impact Phase of the project will begin following the installation of multiple TISEC devices, each a different design. In 2012, receivers will be concentrated in and near the FORCE demonstration area to detect movements of tagged fish in close proximity to in-stream turbines. The data assembled will help address environmental concerns related to the risk of fish-turbine interactions, and may help guide future device designs and the operation of TISEC infrastructure. In addition to OEER funding support, this project is receiving support from FORCE, Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie, Acadia University, NSERC and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Research team members include Rod Bradford and Jamie Gibson (DFO), Jeremy Broome, Michael Dadswell, Richard Karsten and Brian Sanderson (Acadia), and numerous research students at Acadia. Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cetacean Activity Patterns and Movements Pre- and Postdeployment of TISEC devices in Minas Passage Project Team: Dr. Dominic Tollit, SMRU Ltd and Dr. Anna Redden, Acadia University Currently, there is sparse information available on the near-field effects of tidal in-stream energy conversion (TISEC) devices on marine mammals. There is also little data on the temporal presence and activity of marine mammals in the upper Bay of Fundy. While the risk of direct collision or turbine strike remains a potential concern for marine mammals, concerns also include behavioural or activity level modifications or loss of foraging habitat due to anthropogenic noise disturbance (e.g., TISEC turbine installation/operation). The collection of baseline data prior to further TISEC deployments is considered vital in any subsequent post-deployment assessment of changes in cetacean activity levels or spatial use. The research team is using bottommoored passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) units (continuous detection) in the Minas Passage to answer the following research questions: 1) What are the baseline activity patterns and behavior of key cetaceans (harbor porpoises and white-sided dolphins) in the Minas Passage during spring, summer and fall? Figure 6: Heading to the study area in Minas Passage with moorings 2) How do these activity patterns and behaviour: a. vary temporally, with respect to time of day, weeks, months and across years? Figure 5: C-POD, acoustic release, and sub-buoy mooring unit Figure 7: Making contact with an acoustic release Figure 8: Surgically implanting an acoustic tag Photos are courtesy of Colin Buhariwalla and Anna Redden, Acadia University

4 Page 6 Page 7 Figure 9: Satellite image of the Bay of Fundy b. relate to tidal cycles and current velocity? c. vary spatially, with respect to PAM units located within and outside the FORCE demonstration area? d. vary subsequent to the deployment of TISEC devices? Our successful 2010 pilot study (Aug- Nov) using PAM units, specifically C-POD hydrophones (autonomous cetacean echolocation click detectors manufactured by Chelonia Ltd), provided an initial three month baseline in the demonstration area (Tollit et al., 2011). The current project expands the spatial and temporal coverage and will include the mooring of seven C-PODS in 2011 (baseline activity for May- Nov) and nine C-PODS in 2012 (additional baseline and post-installation of turbines). The C-POD data will allow us to determine what periods of the year have the highest activity levels and whether activity patterns are influenced by time of day, tidal cycle or location within the Minas Passage. The inclusion of data from the 2010 pilot study will allow an assessment of how variable these activity patterns are across years. Capturing the level of interannual variability is a key prerequisite for subsequent impact studies. Typical patterns of temporal and spatial use will be described and integrated with information on environmental variables such as current speed. The data collected during will provide essential information on activity levels and on behaviour change following turbine deployments, and the spatial extent of these effects. In addition to OEER funding support, other project supporters include FORCE, Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, and the Ocean Tracking Network. Project team members include Jason Wood (SMRU Ltd.), Jeremy Broome, Lauren Fogarty and Richard Karsten (Acadia University). Strategic Environmental Assessment Phase II OEER has plans underway to apply the existing Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) framework for development of marine renewable energy off the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, including the Cape Breton area. This SEA will be divided into two broad phases: 1) Determining the scope of the SEA (this work should be limited, as much of this can be replicated from SEA Phase I). 2) Phase II of the SEA will entail data collection and assessment, stakeholder engagement and evaluation of alternatives. Specifically it will involve: Collecting baseline data from existing sources (including existing regulatory requirements, environmental constraints and relevant past work); Defining the alternatives for development (including technological options within given environmental constraints); Analyzing the potential effects of development alternatives; Identification of measures to enhance opportunities and mitigate adverse impacts; Consulting with stakeholders; Drafting a report on the findings of the SEA (including recommendations); An independent evaluation/review on the SEA; and Identification of gaps in knowledge/ potential for further study, and submission and presentation of a final report. Tidal Resource Assessment OEER has received funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Energy to complete an assessment of the in-stream tidal resource opportunities in southwest Nova Scotia. The outcome will be a report on the resource potential of the southwest Nova Scotia region. Mi kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study Phase II: Brier and Long Islands Area The 2008 Fundy Tidal Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) recommended that the Province of Nova Scotia ensure that a Mi kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study (MEKS) is carried out before marine renewable energy projects proceed in the Bay of Fundy. In August 2009, OEER awarded a contract to Membertou Geomatics Consultants, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to conduct a MEKS on the Minas Channel area of the Bay of Fundy. This study was completed in fall 2009, and is a comprehensive body of knowledge that documents the collective ecological knowledge held by the Mi kmaq people. The Province of Nova Scotia has identified the need for a Mi kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study (MEKS) Phase II for potential marine renewable energy development in the Brier and Long Islands area of the Bay of Fundy to build upon the 2009 MEKS. To ensure that Mi kmaq use of the land and resources are identified and considered, the Department of Energy proposes a partnership with Fundy Tidal Inc. and OEER to undertake a MEKS Phase II of the Brier and Long Islands area, including Grand Passage and Petit Passage. Nova Scotia Tidal Symposium: Getting Power to Market The Department of Energy is organizing a two-day Tidal Symposium on July 7 & 8, The event is being held in conjunction with the New England Governors and Eastern Atlantic Premiers Conference to provide a working symposium where key players in the sector can collaborate, share information and discuss future opportunities for moving the industry forward. Attendance is expected to draw from amongst a broad range of groups interested in tidal energy, representing Canada, New England, the United Kingdom, and Korea. The two-day symposium covers a range of topics including: Supply chain opportunities and partnerships; Small-scale tidal commercialization; Financing, project economics, and viability; Permitting, licensing, and future

5 Page 8 directions for legislation; Shared infrastructure and testing centers; and Project development, management, and integration. Focused workshops, sessions, and networking opportunities are intended to help meet the symposium s overall objectives of: Research initiatives that advance the commercialization agenda; Project financing; Regulatory issues and solutions; Expanding transmission infrastructure to capitalize on export markets; and Raising awareness of supply chain opportunities and building connections between the marine supply and services sector and project/device developers. During the symposium, Jennifer Matthews, Research Manager for OEER and OETR, will be presenting tidal energy research the Associations are currently managing and have planned for the future. To learn more about the Tidal Symposium and register to attend, visit: For more information about the Tidal Energy Research Program contact: Jennifer Matthews j.matthews@offshoreenergyresearch.ca 5151 George Street, Suite 400, PO Box 2664 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3P7 Canada P: (902) F: (902) OEER is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to fostering offshore energy and environmental research and development, including the examination of renewable energy resources and their interaction with the marine environment. OEER s members include Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University, Cape Breton University and the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.