The Menter Môn-led Marine Characterisation Research Project (MCRP) has announced that Natural Resources Wales has successfully discharged its Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP).
Developed in collaboration with environmental stakeholders and an advisory group, the EMMP is a critical component of the marine licence granted to the Morlais tidal energy project. It ensures the safety of marine mammals, seabirds, and migratory fish during the deployment of tidal devices within the Morlais zone, and it is hoped that the plan can serve as a model for future marine energy projects.
The MCRP has already collected baseline data, which will be available through The Crown Estate's Marine Data Exchange. Continuous data analysis will inform updates to the EMMP, enabling tidal energy schemes to scale up over time.
Helen Roberts, MCRP project manager, said:
“This is great news for us and is pivotal to the Morlais project here on Anglesey. Through this important work, we have outlined how to safely deploy tidal energy devices alongside effective monitoring and mitigation technology designed to safeguard marine wildlife.
“We know there is still work to do, and we will continue to break new ground in our research methods. Just last week, we saw our AI marine mammal detection system in action, and we look forward to sharing more about our work and findings over the coming months and years.”
Menter Môn Morlais Ltd owns and manages Morlais, including the recently completed landfall substation on the outskirts of Holyhead. It also holds the Marine Licence, which means they are legally responsible for the project. The first tidal energy devices will be deployed in the sea in 2026.
The project is funded through the Crown Estate and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
