Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Quarterly Report July - September 2020

This report provides a summary of monitoring activities and data analysis completed at the FORCE site up to the end of the third quarter of 2020. In addition, it also highlights findings from international research efforts, previous data collection periods at the FORCE site, and additional research work that is being conducted by FORCE and its partners.

Key updates in this report include:

- Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Consulting Ltd. provided their 3rd year report of harbour porpoise monitoring at the FORCE test site using C-PODs

- Commissioning Envirosphere Consultants Ltd. and Dr. Phil Taylor (Acadia University) to synthesize the results of observational seabird surveys at the FORCE test site, and to evaluate advanced statistical techniques for analysing seabird count data in relation to environmental predictor variables

- Working collaboratively with the OERA to advance ‘The Pathway Program’ to identify effective and regulator approved monitoring solutions for the tidal energy industry in Nova Scotia

- Working with academic and First Nations partners to advance the Risk Assessment Program (RAP) for tidal stream energy. This program seeks to develop credible and statistically robust encounter rate models for migratory and resident fish species in Minas Passage with tidal turbines.