As the marine renewables industry is relatively new, the impact of new technologies being placed in the marine environment is largely unknown. It is therefore crucial that we take a risk-based approach and have robust monitoring processes in place, to consider effects from individual devices and cumulative effects from multiple devices.
In order to ensure this, Marine Scotland is developing a demonstration strategy, to take maximum advantage of initial deployments and to test monitoring techniques being used to address environmental impacts. Marine Scotland has also established a comprehensive research programme which is investigating the possible effects of marine renewable devices on marine species and habitats.