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Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm Annex 6-2: Site Characterisation Fish Survey Report - Autumn 2016 June, 2018, Revision A Document Reference: 6.4.6.2 Pursuant to: APFP Reg. 5(2)(a) Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm Annex 6-2: Site Characterisation Fish Survey Report - Autumn 2016 June, 2018 Drafted By: Ocean Ecology Ltd Approved By: Helen Jameson Date of Approval June 2018 Revision A Copyright © 2018 Vattenfall Wind Power Ltd All pre-existing rights reserved Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm Site Characterisation Autumn Fish Survey Report 2016 Ref: VATTE1116_SR Prepared for Vattenfall Wind Power Limited ● OceanEcology ● Unit 5, Severnside Park, Epney, Gloucester, GL2 7LN ● Tel: +44(0)1452 740697 Mob: +44(0)7878363635 ● E-mail: [email protected] ● Website www.ocean-ecology.com ● Company Registration Number: 08961638 ● ID 139027 Client: Vattenfall Wind Power Limited Client Contact: Laura Gribble Contractor: OceanEcology Limited Report Title: Thanet Extension Site Characterisation Autumn Fish Survey Report 2016 Report Number: VATTE1116_SR Ocean Ecology Limited (2016). Thanet Extension Site Characterisation Fish Survey Report Recommended Citation: Autumn 2016. Report No. VATTE1116_SR, 53 pp. Version Date Description Author(s) Reviewer(s) 0.1 23/12/2016 Draft Gary Robinson Ross Griffin Executive Summary This report summarises the first of two site characterisation surveys for commercial fish and epifaunal communities at the proposed Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm undertaken by Ocean Ecology Limited on behalf of Vattenfall Wind Power Limited. This survey was undertaken in the autumn, between the 19th and 25th November 2016 aboard the Seiont-A. During the surveys a total of 16 otter trawl and 16 2 m beam trawl stations were sampled, encompassing the development site, the cable route, the zone of potential secondary impacts and a reference area, where no impacts from the proposed development are anticipated. This report aims to provide a summary of the methods employed and present preliminary high level results of the commercial fish, juvenile fish and epifaunal communities within and adjacent to the proposed development. Detailed analysis of data will be presented in a final technical report following the spring survey, to be undertaken in April 2017 and therefore only initial observations are presented here. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS BT Beam Trawl CPUE Catch per Unit Effort DPR Daily Progress Report ECC Export Cable Corridor EIA Environmental Impact Assessment FLO Fisheries Liaison Officer IMCA International Marine Contractors Association KEIFCA Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority MCA Marine Contractors Association MESH Mapping European Seabed Habitats MMO Marine Management Organisation N Abundance NMBAQC National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control OT Otter Trawl OWF Offshore Wind Farm PRIMER Plymouth Routines in Multivariate Ecological Research ROG Recommended Operating Guidelines S Diversity SE Standard Error SSS Side Scan Sonar MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency MBES Multi-Beam Echosounder TCE The Crown Estate TE Thanet Extension TFA Thanet Fishermen’s Association UK United Kingdom UXO Unexploded Ordinance WoRMS World Register of Marine Species CONTENTS 1. Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.1. Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm ................................................................................................. 9 1.2. Project Description ................................................................................................................................ 9 1.3. Baseline Conditions ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.3.1. Abiotic Conditions ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.3.2. Fish Communities ....................................................................................................................... 10 2. METHODS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 2.1. Timing .................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.2. Sampling Rationale ............................................................................................................................. 13 2.2.1. Sampling Method ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.2.2. Proposed Tow Locations ............................................................................................................ 13 2.2.3. Conflicts Check ........................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.4. Final Trawl Locations .................................................................................................................. 14 2.3. Dispensations ...................................................................................................................................... 16 2.4. Overview of Progress .......................................................................................................................... 16 2.5. Field Methods ...................................................................................................................................... 17 2.5.1. Survey Vessels ........................................................................................................................... 17 2.5.2. Sampling ..................................................................................................................................... 18 2.5.3. Sample Processing ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.5.4. Alternative Sampling in Areas of S. spinulosa Reef .................................................................... 21 2.6. Data Analysis ....................................................................................................................................... 22 2.6.1. Quality Control, Data Truncation & Standardisation ................................................................... 22 3. PROVISIONAL RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................. 24 3.1. Commercia Fish and Shellfish ............................................................................................................. 24 3.1.1. Overview of site .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.1.2. Community Composition and Distribution ................................................................................... 24 3.1.1. Abundance and Diversity ............................................................................................................ 24 3.2. Commercial Fish Species .................................................................................................................... 28 3.2.1. Abundance and Distribution ........................................................................................................ 28 3.2.2. Key Commercial Fish Species .................................................................................................... 28 3.3. Elasmobranchs .................................................................................................................................... 32 3.3.1. Abundance & Composition ......................................................................................................... 32 3.3.2. Species Distribution and Sex Ratios ........................................................................................... 32 3.4. Demersal Fish and Epifaunal Invertebrates ......................................................................................... 37 3.4.1. Overview of Site .......................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.2. Community Distribution ............................................................................................................... 37 3.4.3. Abundance and Diversity ............................................................................................................ 38 3.5. Sabellaria spinulosa reef ..................................................................................................................... 44 3.6. Other Species of Particular Interest .................................................................................................... 45 4. SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................................... 47 4.1. Survey Progress .................................................................................................................................. 47 4.2. Commercial Fish .................................................................................................................................
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