Abstract
Harvesting the energy of waves and tides is still the subject of research and development as an increasing number of ingenious devices are invented and subjected to test. It is unclear which, if any, of these will ultimately be chosen for commercial deployment but the capacity for research and testing has expanded rapidly into an active multi-million pound sector. Preparations for a commercial phase are underway in Scotland with the allocation of seabed leases to developers in the seas around Orkney; just in advance of Scotland’s first detailed
Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) which is under preparation in the area. Anxiety to build
confidence in a new and nationally important industrial sector conflicts with a plethora of uncertainties about technology and impacts on the natural environment and existing uses. MSP will help to build a new governance structure for marine space but in the Pentland Firth and Orkney (PFOW) waters area it is struggling to catch up with events. The EU FP7 funded MESMA programme is designed to create a generic framework and tools for MSP tested through nine case studies across Europe including one of the PFOW which is led by ICIT/Heriot-Watt University. This paper examines the PFOW case study and the gaps in knowledge which must be filled to build MSP and the development of a balanced and sustainable marine energy industry.
Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) which is under preparation in the area. Anxiety to build
confidence in a new and nationally important industrial sector conflicts with a plethora of uncertainties about technology and impacts on the natural environment and existing uses. MSP will help to build a new governance structure for marine space but in the Pentland Firth and Orkney (PFOW) waters area it is struggling to catch up with events. The EU FP7 funded MESMA programme is designed to create a generic framework and tools for MSP tested through nine case studies across Europe including one of the PFOW which is led by ICIT/Heriot-Watt University. This paper examines the PFOW case study and the gaps in knowledge which must be filled to build MSP and the development of a balanced and sustainable marine energy industry.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | ICES Annual Science Conference |
| Subtitle of host publication | 19-23 September 2011: business meetings 17-24 September: Gdansk Music and Congress Centre, Gdansk, Poland |
| Publisher | International Council for the Exploration of the Sea |
| Pages | 1-15 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Publication status | Published - 2011 |
| Event | ICES Annual Science Conference - Gdansk, Poland Duration: 19 Sept 2011 → 23 Sept 2011 |
Conference
| Conference | ICES Annual Science Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICES |
| Country/Territory | Poland |
| City | Gdansk |
| Period | 19/09/11 → 23/09/11 |
