Tidal energy, conservation, and
fisheries in Strangford Lough, N
Ireland
Dr. Julia Sigwart
[email protected]
Marine research stations
• Extraordinary places are
often a bit remote!
• Local specialist
infrastructure is
necessary to exploit
opportunities
• Marine infrastructures
and specialist institutes
foster interdisciplinary
collaboration and
engagement with
stakeholders
• UK -> NI -> Strangford Lough
Strangford
Lough
An inland sea surrounded by
acronyms
• one of the most protected marine sites in
Europe
– Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
– Marine Conservation Zone (formerly Marine
Nature Reserve)
– Natura 2000
– Ramsar site
– National Trust properties
– Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)
– Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
– Special Protection Areas (SPA)
– OSPAR Marine protected area
All of these, and
more
Strangford Lough
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Fully marine, inland sea, biggest in UK
150 km2 (100 km2 at low tide)
Tidal currents up to 4 m/s
Experimental tidal energy generators
High currents to protected mudflats
Genetic isolation
Migratory birds
Reefs, including Modiolous
Queen’s Marine Lab
• Research institute based at the
“Narrows”, lough entrance
• Year-round facilities for Biology
and Engineering
• Resident (15) and
non-resident (60)
• Coastal boats & University
SCUBA team
• Teaching lab – field courses
QML marine science
• sustainable marine resources
- seaweed, shellfish, and
energy generation
• organismal biology
- anatomy and histology
- experimental ecology,
mesocosms
• global science & local
conservation
Living Laboratory
• 65 m depth
• narrow tidal connection
to Irish Sea
• tidal transportation of
sediments creates a
gradient of bottom
conditions (and
habitats)
• Mud and gravel
reef building Modiolus
horse mussels
• Deep channel rapids
tidal energy
Modiolus modiolus reefs
• EU protected Annex I habitat
• Disappeared from most of historical
distribution in Strangford Lough;
remnant populations are highly
fragmented.
• NI government threatened with
infraction – fines
• QUB research for effective restoration
funded by NI Government (2008-2015)
- mesocosm experiments
- tidal current modelling
- artificial reefs & local monitoring
1975
records basis of SAC designation
2009
Modiolus protected area 2012
km
• New enforcement (DOE NI) and public awareness
• No anchoring, no SCUBA diving, no fishing, nothing
touches the bottom below 10 m
• Continued decline (and continued research...)
• Mud and gravel
reef building Modiolus
horse mussels
• Deep channel rapids
tidal energy
Interdisciplinary QML
• Research spanning 3 Schools (Biology,
Geography, Civil Engineering)
– Conservation
– Seaweed biofuels
– Coastal defenses and marine
renewable energy
• Engineering @ QML
– 10th scale wave & prototype tidal seabed
sites
– Open water towing facility
– Large scale Wave basin
– Analytical labs, CT rooms
• World’s first commercial
scale tidal turbine
(2008)
• QML research leaders
(biology & engineering)
as science liaison for
policy makers –
commercial installation
in an SAC
• Project completed
• Next project:
decommissioning and
de-installation, 2015
Siemens
SeaGen
Northern Ireland’s
marine research institute
• Extraordinary places are
often a bit remote!
• Local specialist
infrastructure is
necessary to exploit
opportunities
• Interdisciplinary projects
expand audience, and
relevance
• Combining applied and
blue skies research
makes stronger science
Dr. Julia Sigwart
[email protected]