Quantifying fish-turbine spatio-temporal overlap for assessing risk to migratory fishes using VEMCOs new high residency acoustic electronic tagging technology

The lack of scientific data on the potential effects of instream tidal power is delaying the decision-making process on a technology that shows promise for reducing carbon emissions, and for which Canada could become a global leader in the production of infrastructure. It remains unclear if fishes that occupy Canadas leading tidal energy test site will be negatively affected by turbine installations. The objective here is to determine spatial and temporal overlap of fishes with areas scheduled for turbine deployment. We will capture, tag and release fishes using new, innovative High Residency fish tracking technology from VEMCO. Data retrieved from receiver that archive transmissions from the tagged fishes will be used to determine spatial and temporal overlap, of Alewife, Atlantic Salmon, Striped Bass and Atlantic Sturgeon, with the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy test site in Minas Passage, Nova Scotia. An area scheduled for turbine operations. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Anna Redden

Student:

Liza Tsitrin

Partner:

Offshore Energy Research Association of Nova Scotia

Discipline:

Biology

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

Program: