Question Period Note: Marine Renewable Energy Development

Marine Renewable Energy Development

Canada is committed to investing in clean growth, innovation, and emerging forms of renewable energy.

Under the Blue Economy Strategy, we will continue to work with provinces and territories, and the marine renewable energy industry to support projects and technology which advance this sector while ensuring the protection of our fisheries resources and aquatic species at risk.

DFO supports a staged approach to marine renewable energy development through a review process that utilizes evidence based decision making supported by the precautionary approach.

• DFO has issued several Fisheries Act authorizations for in-stream tidal power development projects over the last number of years. The most recent demonstration projects are focused in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.
• Marine renewable energy, including tidal power and offshore wind, is still an emerging industry in Canada. Only a few tidal projects having produced grid connected energy and no offshore wind projects have reached the stage of being grid connected.
• As stated in the Blue Economy Strategy discussion paper, future development of ocean-based energy projects must consider the impact that they may have on marine species and habitats, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and the surrounding environment to avoid undermining other economic and environmental objectives and reconciliation.
• DFO plays an important role in the environmental assessment and regulatory review processes for projects that have the potential to impact fish and fish habitat in Canada, including marine renewable energy projects.
• Most marine renewable projects would require a review under the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act for potential impacts to fish and aquatic species at risk.
• For tidal projects, there is an absence of information to both predict and monitor for impacts to fish and aquatic species at risk as most instream tidal projects (tidal turbines which do not impound water) have only operated for a very limited time before failing or being removed.
• DFO Maritimes Region’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program has been working with the Province of Nova Scotia and the tidal energy sector on marine renewable energy projects, and continues to support a phased approach to tidal energy development that balances technology demonstration with effects monitoring and research. However, this approach is viewed by some in the industry as a barrier to development.
• DFO continues to support a staged approach to tidal energy development based on a developer’s ability to demonstrate that the project can be operated in a manner that is consistent with DFO’s mandate and objectives. DFO will also work with Natural Resources Canada and the provinces to support future offshore wind development using a similar approach to ensure the departmental mandate is met.

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