The Bay of Fundy has enormous potential to be a source of clean, renewable electricity and help respond to the impacts of climate change like ocean acidification, sea level rise, and coastal erosion. While international research around tidal stream technology suggests fish and marine mammals generally avoid these devices, more research is required to understand any potential effects in Fundy’s unique ecosystem.

That’s where the Risk Assessment Program (RAP) for Tidal Energy can help, giving regulators, Rights holders, community stakeholders, and technology developers a better understanding of the potential risks to fishes of commercial, cultural, and conservation value in the Bay of Fundy in advance of tidal turbine deployments, and informing future monitoring programs.

RAP is a collaborative effort between Acadia University, the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), Marine Renewables Canada (MRC), the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM) / Mi’kmaw Conservation Group (MCG), the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) at Dalhousie University, and a number of Mi'kmaq and local fishers.

The RAP project is now entering its second year. Check out our Risk Assessment Program Annual Report to learn more about the project and what's been accomplished in year one.