The turbines turn too slowly to affect fish say developers

Guernsey Electricity is investing �250,000 to support new research into the tidal farm.

The area, which has some of the fastest tidal flows in the world, could see the farm sending power to the island by 2006.

Richard Lord warned the effects must be thoroughly researched to preserve the local marine environment.

'No danger'

Mr Lord thinks Guernsey Electricity is right to look to the other forms of renewable energy for the future.

But he said: "More research needs to be done on the impact it will have.

"If there are hundreds of turbines it could have a significant effect and could exclude areas for fishing, so fishermen need to be informed and need to be part of the process."

Project developer Marine Current Turbines Ltd (MCT), have a successful pilot project under way at Lynmouth, off the Devon coast.

It says there is no danger to fish because the blades rotate quite slowly, at about 20 revolutions per minute.