Buoy back in action for Morlais wildlife monitoring

Menter Môn-managed buoy, linked to the Morlais tidal energy scheme off the coast of north Wales, has been redeployed to monitor marine wildlife as the project gears up for operations in 2026.

The unmanned Marinus LiDAR buoy, first deployed in 2023, recently underwent rigorous testing and refurbishment. Now fully operational, it will leverage state-of-the-art technologies to monitor marine mammals and seabirds in the zone earmarked for tidal energy devices under the Menter Môn-led Marine Characterisation and Research Project (MCRP), according to Menter Môn.

The buoy is equipped with sonar imaging, acoustic monitoring, and video imaging systems. These technologies have been calibrated for local conditions to deliver precise data on wildlife behavior and patterns, supporting the Morlais project’s environmental monitoring framework.

“This is another important milestone for us and the tidal energy sector,” said Helen Roberts, MCRP Project Manager. 

“The operational trial of the technology over the next 12 months is a significant step forward in our delivery of an effective and transferable monitoring and mitigation system to safeguard marine mammals and diving seabirds in developments like Morlais. We look forward to analysing the findings and sharing our learning with colleagues across the tidal energy sector.”

In addition to monitoring wildlife, the buoy will collect environmental data to inform updates to the Morlais Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP). 

Menter Môn noted that the current deployment will also help refine artificial intelligence (AI) tools aimed at enhancing long-term monitoring capabilities, ensuring the system adapts to the evolving needs of the Morlais scheme and the broader tidal energy sector.

The buoy will remain at sea for 12 months, with data shared with turbine developers and the wider industry to support sector growth. 

According to Menter Môn, the next phase of development, scheduled for 2025, involves adapting the SIMA system for seabed-mounted turbines in the Morlais zone. Environmental monitoring remains integral to Morlais’ goals of sustainability and sector advancement. 

In May, Menter Môn retrieved the Marinus buoy for maintenance following its first year at sea. Deployed in June 2023 near Holyhead, the buoy marked a milestone for tidal energy in Wales, as its findings are expected to guide future turbine installations at Morlais and similar projects worldwide.

On a related note, in May, Menter Môn-led researchers fitted miniature solar-powered trackers on birds off Ynys Môn, Anglesey, to monitor their migration and behavior. This initiative, part of the MCRP, aims to ensure the safe deployment of tidal energy devices in the Morlais scheme.