Tidal and instream hydrokinetic development: regulatory review and information needs in the Northeast

The Northeast Region of National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), ranging from Maine to Virginia, has approximately 18 proposed tidal and in-stream hydrokinetic projects within its jurisdiction.  This represents approximately 45% of all tidal and in-stream projects proposed nationally.  Technologies for these proposed projects are novel and diverse.  All, however, are lacking substantive data pertaining to environmental impacts.  While some impact types are common across technology designs (e.g., strike by blades, noise, habitat alteration), the potential and degree of impacts on aquatic and marine resources and associated habitats are unknown.  As a science based resource agency, NMFS relies on the best available data to fulfill its federal statutory responsibilities for the protection and enhancement of living marine resources and associated habitats.  Data used in the regulatory review process should be current, relevant and of sufficient scale (temporally and spatially) to evaluate potential impacts and alterations to the baseline condition. Complete base-line data will facilitate an understanding of this novel technology within the aquatic and marine environment.  NMFS depends on these data in the regulatory process to recommend modifications to project operations, define monitoring needs and establish adaptive management protocols in the development of an environmentally sustainable renewable energy source.