Subscribe to our newsletter
Future of wave hub is secured
The offshore marine energy project in Cornwall, which allows developers to test new wave energy technology, will be taken on by the Government to secure its future as a vital part of the UK's green energy sources. Read more
PRIMaRE Autumn Newsletter
Our Autumn newsletter is now available to download in PDF format.
Read more
Wave Hub wins national sustainability award
Wave Hub, the offshore marine energy project in Cornwall, has been named Sustainable Project of the Year in the businessGreen Leaders Awards 2011.
Read more
Environmental & Biodiversity Impacts
PRIMaRE researchers are working to understand, quantify and mitigate the environmental and biodiversity impacts of marine renewable energy extraction, which are key considerations in gaining consent for marine energy projects. For example, baseline studies at the Wave Hub site will provide detailed impact assessment data for developers.
Evaluation of the environmental impacts resulting from marine renewable energy developments are divided into two main categories: the impact on physical processes and the impact on marine biodiversity.
Research capabilities include:
- Passive acoustic cetacean monitoring
- Ecological modelling
- Monitoring of benthic (seabed) environment and biodiversity
- Subsea inspections, mapping and imaging of benthic ecosystems
- Monitoring of pelagic (non-seabed) environment and biodiversity
- Broadband observation of pelagic and benthic acoustic environment
- Cetacean detection
- Water column and plankton sampling
- Seabird census
- Aerial surveying for large pelagic species and pinnepeds
- Satellite tracking of individuals to establish behaviour patterns and responses
- Modelling of ecological dynamics and diversity
- Assessment of the impact of anthropogenic sound on marine species
- Mapping of the UK inshore fisheries operations to establish effects of marine renewable energy installations on fisheries and maritime biodiversity
- Statistical analysis of impacts of marine renewable energy installations on the marine environment
- Observation and monitoring of sub-aerial and intra-tidal beach response
- Observation, sampling, monitoring and modelling of sea-bed hydrodynamics and sediment transport
Environmental & Biodiversity Impacts:
- Prof. Martin Attrill, Biodiversity Impacts »
- Dr Stuart Bearhop, Conservation & Biodiversity »
- Dr Annette Broderick, Conservation Biology »
- Dr Stephen Cotterell, Associate Lecturer »
- Dr Gillian Glegg, Marine Management »
- Dr Brendan Godley, Conservation & Biodiversity »
- James Grecian, PRIMaRE PhD Student »
- Dr Jason Hall-Spencer, Marine Science & Engineering »
- Dr Phil Hosegood, Coastal Wave Dynamics »
- Prof. Georgy Shapiro, Physical Oceanography »
- Dr Emma Sheehan, Biodiversity Impacts »
- Prof. David Sims, Senior Research Fellow »
- Dr Stephen Votier, Marine Ecology »
- Dr Matthew Witt, Research Fellow »
