Department of Environment has approved the proposed monitoring program for the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) and Cape Sharp Tidal Venture.
Approval on the plan allows FORCE to proceed with the initial phase of the tidal demonstration project, which is to deploy two turbines in the Minas Passage for research purposes.
“We are satisfied that the proposed plan, together with the monitoring and study improvements as we have directed, will help address information gaps and improve our understanding of the interaction between the two turbines and marine life in this unique environment,” said environment minister Margaret Miller . “If we are to advance our collective knowledge of the turbines’ impact on our fish and marine mammals, demonstration turbines need to be in the water.”
The information collected will help with future decisions. A new monitoring program is required and must be accepted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Department of Environment before any more turbines can be deployed.