The Nature of Scotland

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New discoveries Scotland’s coastline is one of the longest in Europe – if it was stretched out in a straight line it would reach all the way from Scotland to Hawaii. The vast scale of Scotland’s coastal and marine resource, along with the obvious difficulties of observing and measuring what’s happening under the surface of the sea, means that we’re still discovering new species and the way that marine animals live. For instance, only four years ago, SNH scientists discovered one of the world’s rarest coral-like structures in a loch in Morven. These colonies of reef-building worms were previously thought to exist only in Loch Creran and in three other places in the world. It’s clear that we have a challenge ahead of us to get hold of the information we need to ensure that we choose the best sites for marine renewable technologies and to minimise their impacts on marine wildlife and habitats. “It’s vital that we increase our knowledge of the marine environment if we’re to get marine renewable development right,” comments George Lees, policy and advice manager for SNH. “We’re therefore focusing on some of the key questions that will help ensure marine devices can contribute to a low-carbon Scotland while not harming our spectacular marine wildlife. We have a number of research projects that will help us give the best, scientifically based advice to government and developers.” There’s a project mapping the use of sea space by seals, basking sharks, whales and dolphins in the Pentland Firth and Orkney area, where many of the tidal turbines will be installed. Another is reviewing the effects of noise from marine devices on salmon, trout and eels. And there’s also a review of the diving behaviour of seabirds and the distances they travel to find food. Monitoring is another important strand of SNH’s research work. Projects include surveying marine mammals, fish and birds in areas where marine devices will be placed, as well as monitoring wildlife around the EMEC wave test facility in Orkney. “In all cases, we’re identifying gaps in our knowledge and trying to ensure that we address them,” George adds. Naturally gifted Scotland is fortunate in being blessed with a wealth of energy from nature. We have 25% of the offshore wind, 10% of the wave and 25% of the tidal resources of Europe. But the rate at which we install renewables will need to increase if we’re to achieve the cuts in greenhouse gases that are needed to avoid dangerous climate change. 3 62 The Nature of Scotland
Productive seas Scotland’s seas are highly productive and diverse, supporting over 8,000 different species and 30% of Europe’s breeding seabirds. They also create huge wind, tidal and wave energy resources. The connection between our renewable energy resources and the fertility of our seas lies in Scotland’s unique geography. The vast ice sheets that covered Scotland during the last ice age carved a highly indented coastline leaving deep lochs and over 800 islands. This gives Scotland a coastline some 11,800 km long, as well as some of the strongest and most complex tides in the world. Water flowing between the islands and around the headlands restricts the flow of water. This creates fierce tidal currents and concentrates fish into distinct areas, producing important feeding grounds for seabirds and marine mammals. Scotland lies on the edge of the European continental shelf, bearing the brunt of the Atlantic swell and winds that blow over thousands of miles of ocean. Winds and waves can be harnessed to produce renewable energy, but Scotland also sees the benefits in the nutrients that are brought up from the deep ocean and in the mixing of the waters by waves. To accommodate this pace, we need new approaches for looking at the effects of renewable devices on marine wildlife and habitats. Marine Scotland are developing an approach where one or a few renewable devices are installed, and the effects on the marine environment and wildlife are closely monitored before the number of devices is expanded, or larger numbers are built elsewhere. Information gathered from this phased approach with early installations will help us make better informed decisions on how future devices should be developed and located. Many areas with strong tides are also among Scotland’s richest areas for marine life. This is the case in the seas around Orkney, where large numbers of seabirds and marine mammals feast on the plentiful marine life of the islands. “Orkney has a number of highly important protected sites because of the scale of the bird colonies,” explains George. “We have to speak to the developers during the planning process in Orkney so that we make sure the health of these sites is maintained. And in locations where several renewable devices are planned for the same area, then we have to consider the potential for additional effects on marine wildlife.” Sound signatures Once Caroline Carter has gathered information on the soundscape in tidal areas, she’s hoping to work with the marine renewables companies to find ‘sound signatures’ for their devices. She plans to use these, and her own data, to check whether marine mammals will be able to hear tidal stream generators. “The developers will also be doing a lot of their own monitoring and research around the devices, which could offer important insights if the results are shared,” she says. Marine developers will need to carry out rigorous monitoring when they put devices in place and will have to provide the results to Marine Scotland and SNH. “We’re looking for ways to encourage companies to share their data without affecting their need to keep some things confidential,” George Lees commented. Back on Loch Creran, Caroline is talking me through the huge variety of marine devices that are currently being planned, developed and tested. “No-one knows which will be successful in commercial terms and each could have a different effect on the marine environment,” she says. “Some marine devices could even have unexpected positive effects for marine wildlife by providing an artificial reef for creatures that would otherwise have nothing suitable to live on,” says Caroline. “There are so many unknowns. But that’s what makes it exciting.” 3 Serpulid reef in Loch Creran. These are the best developed reefs of their kind in the world. They’re a haven for other marine wildlife. www.snh.gov.uk 63
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