Bay of Fundy tidal project 'transparency' questioned

A group opposingaprojectto capture power from the world's highest tides says the company installing the underwater turbines isn't doing a good job consulting the public.

Cape Sharp Tidal Venture has been approved to launch two turbines in the Bay of Fundy's Minas Passage, home to endangered species, such as Atlantic salmon and white shark,and active fisheries.

That launch is delayed pending more work on the turbines, which the company says is opportunity to consult withthe fishing community, spokeswoman Sarah Dawson said in an email Saturday.

'Lack of transparency'

But a fishermen's group says the company won't holda public meeting, instead offeringto meet one-on-one in a "divide and conquer" tactic.

"We feel that the lack of transparency and meaningful inclusion in tidal energy development in Nova Scotia has led to all these problems," Bay Inshore Fishermen's Association spokesman Colin Sproul said.

"We really would like to engage Cape Sharp Tidal Venture, but we just feel it's irresponsible to do it in an off-the-record, informal manner like they've requested."

Dawson, who declined an interview,did not answerquestions about the nature of consultations.

Instead she said, while the company pauses turbine deployment, ithopes to have "meaningful dialogue with those who previously felt they weren't heard."

• Cape Sharp Tidal Fundy project delayed for turbine work

Environmental worries

Fishermen are worried about the effects of turbines on fish,fish habitats and variousindustries. The Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative wrote a public letter expressing similar concerns.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has said it believes the five-storeyhigh turbines will have little effect on marine life, but can't be sure due to insufficient data.

The environmental effectsmonitoring program's information provides "only limited understanding of the potential interactions with the turbines or use of the site by marine species," said a June letter to Nova Scotia Environment from DFO regulatory review manager Mark McLean.

That "could limit the ability of regulators to assess the potential impact."

• DFO letter to Nova Scotia Environment about Cape Sharp Tidal program

DFO wants changes to project

DFO recommends improving fish tagging, lobster migratory monitoring, sonarand the dead animal tracking system, as the one proposed relies on the public reporting dead marine life washing up onshore.

Also, the sonar monitorsmay not withstand high speed current'sturbulence and noise.

"That's the two sides of this story. The attractiveness is the incredibly fast currents, the amount of water moving through there, which makes it appealing for an industry like tidal power,"McLeansaid.

"From a monitoring perspective, it makes it that much more challenging."

Company to act on recommendations

Recommendations inMcLean'sletterwere inturn passed to the company.

The improvementsshould be done six months to a year after turbines are put in the water, McLean said in a June interview.

"At the end of the day, if this industry has any hope of expanding at all, they're going to need to answer those questions about potential impacts on aquatic life," hesaid.

• Bay of Fundy tidal power experiment approved by Nova Scotia government

Dawson refused to say if the company would meet thatdeadline, but she said it willfollow hisrecommendations.

If the deadline isn't met, DFO and Nova Scotia Environment have options to compel the company to comply, McLean said.

Cape Sharp Tidal does not have a date yet for launching the turbines.