ORKNEY — A landmark report released today has set out a roadmap to reconcile Scotland’s vast tidal energy potential with pressing environmental considerations, especially concerns around possible collisions between turbines and harbour seals.
The report, titled Managing the Consenting Risk of Harbour Seal Collision in the Scottish Tidal Energy Industry, outlines a framework to overcome one of the biggest regulatory hurdles facing the tidal stream sector: navigating uncertainty in wildlife impact assessments to gain project approvals.
Funded by Crown Estate Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the initiative — part of the Tidal Industry Seal Project (TISP) — represents the most concerted effort yet to de-risk tidal stream consenting and move toward commercial-scale deployment.
Scotland’s Tidal Power Edge: Untapped and Uncertain
Scotland’s Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters boast some of the strongest tidal flows in the world, with more power generated from their currents than anywhere else. Developers like MeyGen, Nova Innovation, and Orbital Marine Power have pioneered new technologies in the area, establishing the region as the epicentre of the UK’s marine energy ambitions.
But despite no confirmed instances of seal-turbine collisions from years of environmental monitoring, current regulations still impose high precautionary burdens—largely due to declining harbour seal populations in the region.
“Extensive monitoring… has found no evidence of seal-turbine collisions,” said Dr Ewan Edwards, Environmental Specialist at Xodus. “On the contrary, data suggest that seals actively avoid operating turbines, especially during peak flows.”
A Sector United: Call for Science-Led, Proportionate Regulation
The report urges greater alignment between developers, regulators, and conservation bodies to form a regionally coherent, statistically grounded approach to wildlife assessment. It recommends a shift from hypothetical risk modeling to impact evaluations based on actual ecological data and long-term monitoring.
Key recommendations include:
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Enhancing data sharing across tidal developers.
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Trialling new marine mammal monitoring technologies.
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Establishing regional population-level impact models.
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Reforming policy frameworks to reflect latest scientific evidence.
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“The consenting system must evolve to reflect both the latest evidence and the scale of this vital technology,” said Fraser Johnson, O&M Manager at MeyGen. “We must enable responsible growth, build trust, and deliver long-term value.”
Harbour Seals: Conservation Concern and Political Sensitivity
Populations of harbour seals in Orkney and northern Scotland have dropped sharply in the past two decades. Though the causes are believed to be unrelated to marine renewables — ranging from killer whale predation and fish competition to algal biotoxins — the issue remains politically and publicly sensitive.
“The risk of collision is a hypothetical one, rather than a realistic threat,” added Dr Edwards. “But precautionary interpretation of that risk can still stall vital projects.”
Policy Bottleneck vs Climate Urgency
The report arrives at a crucial time. The UK and Scottish Governments are counting on tidal stream energy to contribute to net zero targets and energy security, particularly as onshore wind and solar face planning bottlenecks.
“To enable sustainable development, this consenting uncertainty must be resolved in a collaborative, science-led manner,” said Donald Leaver, Environment and Consents Manager at EMEC.
As new projects prepare to scale up across the Pentland Firth over the next decade, delays in regulatory reform could put at risk hundreds of megawatts of clean, reliable baseload power — as well as the local economic benefits tied to it.
Sector-Led Innovation: A Blueprint for Marine Growth
The report was compiled by a multi-disciplinary consortium including Xodus Group, Burges Salmon LLP, Carronside Consultancy, Orbital Marine Power, and others, highlighting the sector’s proactive role in de-risking its own development pathway.
The group emphasized the importance of partnerships with agencies like NatureScot to evolve policy in tandem with science and technology — rather than in reaction to precautionary assumptions.
“This work is part of our long-term commitment to the region,” said Johnson. “We look forward to continuing the dialogue to support practical solutions.”
With the right regulatory support, Scotland’s marine energy sector could transition from pilot-scale demonstration to mainstream generation, transforming regional economies while safeguarding marine ecosystems.
