European Marine Energy Centre Billia Croo Wildlife Observation Data

A key concern expressed by policy makers, regulators and environmental stakeholders about deployment of marine energy devices in open waters, relates to the possibility of the negative effects they may have on marine mammals and diving birds. The potential for direct collision with such devices, or harmful effects caused by their presence, including the potential for displacement of marine wildlife from habitual waters, are key factors which need to be addressed in order for the marine renewable energy industry to progress. In order to get as accurate a picture as possible about the presence and behaviour of marine wildlife in the vicinity of operating devices, data needs to be collected both underwater and at the sea surface. Wildlife observation data is collected by EMEC at the Billia Croo test site. The data has been made available by Marine Scotland and covers the years 2009 - present.