Gwynt Y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Marine Ecology Technical Report
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Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Marine Ecology Technical Report 2005 Report number: J3004/2005 Report to: npower renewables CMACS Ltd. CMACS Ltd. Cammell Lairds Waterfront Park Port Erin Marine Laboratory Campbeltown Road, Birkenhead Breakwater Road, Port Erin Wirral CH41 9HP Isle of Man, IM9 6JA Tel 0151 650 2275 Tel 01624 831 018 Fax 0151 650 2274 Fax 01624 831 043 Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Ltd. Registered in England No. 4883990 Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Marine Ecology Technical Report Table of Contents 1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 3 2. Project Details...................................................................................................................... 5 3. The Existing Marine Environment.................................................................................... 20 3.1 Water & Sediment Quality Environmental Background.......................................... 20 3.1.1 The Existing Water Quality within Liverpool Bay ................................................... 20 3.1.2 The Existing Sediment Quality within Liverpool Bay ............................................. 23 3.2 Plankton Environmental Background....................................................................... 30 3.3 Benthic Ecology Environmental Background.......................................................... 33 3.3.1 Regional Review of Subtidal Benthic Communities............................................... 33 3.3.2 Site-Specific Subtidal Benthic Studies................................................................... 36 3.3.3 Intertidal Ecology ................................................................................................... 45 3.4 Fish & Shellfish Environmental Background ........................................................... 71 3.4.1 Regional Review of the Fish & Shellfish Fauna of Liverpool Bay.......................... 71 3.4.2 Spawning and Nursery Areas ................................................................................ 73 3.4.3 Migratory Species .................................................................................................. 76 3.4.4 Commercial Fish and Shellfish stocks of Liverpool Bay ........................................ 77 3.4.5 Site-Specific Fish Information ................................................................................ 84 3.5 Marine Mammals Environmental Background ....................................................... 105 3.5.1 Regional Review of Marine Mammal Distribution................................................ 105 3.5.2 Site-Specific Marine Mammal Monitoring ............................................................ 108 3.5.3 The Eastern Irish Sea Seal Tagging Studies....................................................... 113 3.5.4 Summary.............................................................................................................. 114 3.6 Nature Conservation Environmental Background................................................. 120 3.6.1 International Designations ................................................................................... 120 3.6.2 National Designations.......................................................................................... 131 3.6.3 Other Protected Sites........................................................................................... 134 3.6.4 Rare, Endangered and Protected Species .......................................................... 136 3.7 Subsea Noise Background....................................................................................... 161 3.7.1 Underwater noise sources within Liverpool Bay.................................................. 161 3.7.2 Site-specific Background Noise Levels................................................................ 162 3.8 Electromagnetic Field Background......................................................................... 168 3.8.1 Magnetic Fields.................................................................................................... 168 3.8 2 Induced Electrical Fields...................................................................................... 170 3.8.3 Likely Electromagnetic Fields at the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm. ............ 172 4. Potential Impacts on the Marine Ecological Environment. ......................................... 175 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 175 4.2 Potential Impacts on Water & Sediment Quality.................................................... 177 4.2.1 Potential Impacts From The Construction Phase ................................................ 177 4.2.2 Potential Impacts From The Operational Phase.................................................. 184 4.2.3 Potential Impacts From The Decommissioning Phase........................................ 186 4.3 Potential Impacts on Benthic Ecology.................................................................... 188 4.3.2 Potential Impacts From The Construction Phase ................................................ 189 4.3.3 Potential Impacts From The Operational Phase.................................................. 199 4.3.4 Potential Impacts From The Decommissioning Phase........................................ 205 4.4 Potential Impacts on Fish & Shellfish Ecology...................................................... 209 4.5.2 Potential Impacts From The Construction Phase ................................................ 210 4.4.3 Potential Impacts From The Operational Phase.................................................. 226 CMACS/J3004/2005 1 Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Marine Ecology Technical Report 4.4.4 Potential Impacts From The Decommissioning Phase........................................ 236 4.5 Potential Impacts on Marine Mammals................................................................... 240 4.5.2 Potential Impacts From The Construction Phase ................................................ 242 4.5.3 Potential Impacts From The Operational Phase.................................................. 251 4.6.4 Potential Impacts From The Decommissioning Phase........................................ 256 4.6 Potential Impacts on Marine & Coastal Sites and Species of Conservation Interest.............................................................................................................................. 259 4.6.2 Potential Impacts From The Construction Phase ................................................ 261 4.6.3 Potential Impacts From The Operational Phase.................................................. 266 4.6.4 Potential Impacts From The Decommissioning Phase........................................ 268 5. References ...................................................................................................................... 269 6. Appendices…….………………………………………………………………………………..284 6.1 Appendix 1: Marine Benthic Characterisation Survey Report………………...……284 6.2 Appendix 2: Baseline Marine Mammal Survey Report……………………………….596 6.3 Appendix 3: Site-specific Marine Noise Report…………………………………….....694 CMACS/J3004/2005 2 Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Marine Ecology Technical Report 1. Introduction The production of electricity through the burning of fossil fuels produces large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Such greenhouse gases have been attributed as contributors to global temperature rise the consequences of which include; increased erratic climatic events such as flooding and drought, and rising sea levels attributed to the melting of the polar ice caps, threatening coastal and small island communities. In 1997, worldwide governments (including the United Kingdom (UK)) agreed on the Kyoto Protocol. This protocol established legally binding targets, following ratification, for the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted by industrial nations. The UK Government has put in place an additional target, recently revised to a 14% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 compared to 1990 levels. As one third of all carbon dioxide emitted in the UK comes from fossil fuelled power generation, and because of the rising demand for energy, both in the UK and worldwide, electricity from clean renewable sources such as wind power will therefore be essential for the UK to meet its targets on taking action on climate change (BWEA, 2005). In 2003, the UK’s first commercial offshore wind farm (North Hoyle) was commissioned off the North Wales coast between Rhyl and Prestatyn by npower renewables. Thirty turbines generate up to 60MW of electricity and provide energy from a renewable source to meet the needs of approximately 40,000 homers per annum. It is expected that this renewable energy development will offset the release of approximately 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas contributing to global warming and climate change) every year (npower renewables, 2005) bringing the UK closer to meeting the governments commitment to renewable energy targets. Under the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) Round 2 offshore wind farm allocation process npower renewables are now seeking to build Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm within Liverpool Bay some 13-15km offshore from the North Wales coastline stretching from Prestatyn in the East to Penrhyn Bay in the West. The Gwynt y Môr project will generate a capacity of up to