Tidal energy turbines offer renewable electricity but raise welfare concerns for marine animals including fish, seals, and cetaceans in tidal channels.
Tidal energy welfare considerations involve both direct collision risk and indirect habitat effects. The high-flow areas targeted for tidal energy development are often preferred foraging sites for harbor seals, dolphins, and diving seabirds, meaning development displaces animals from important habitat even when direct strikes are avoided. Fish passage through tidal devices results in variable mortality rates depending on turbine design and blade speed. Designing tidal energy with animal welfare in mind - through turbine design, exclusion zones, and monitoring - can significantly reduce welfare impacts while maintaining energy generation.