Measuring the Interaction Between Marine Features of Special

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Measuring the Interaction Between Marine Features of Special BTO Research Report No. 590 Measuring the interaction between marine features of Special Protection Areas with offshore wind farm development zones through telemetry: first breeding season report Authors Chris B. Thaxter1, Viola H. Ross-Smith1, Nigel A. Clark1, Greg J. Conway1, Mark. M. Rehfisch1, Willem Bouten2 and Niall H.K. Burton1 Report of work carried out by the British Trust for Ornithology1 in association with the University of Amsterdam2 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change May 2011 This document was produced as part of the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change's offshore energy Strategic Environmental Assessment programme. Crown Copyright, all rights reserved URN 11D/846 British Trust for Ornithology The British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU Registered Charity No. 216652 CONTENTS Page No. List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. 3 List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. 5 List of Appendices ............................................................................................................................. 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 9 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 11 1.2 Project aims ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Tagging birds to understand interactions ........................................................................... 12 1.3.1 Breeding season movements ................................................................................. 12 1.3.2 Non-breeding season movements ......................................................................... 12 1.3.3 Flight altitudes of birds .......................................................................................... 13 1.4 Focal species ...................................................................................................................... 13 1.4.1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls ...................................................................................... 14 1.4.2 Great Skuas ............................................................................................................ 14 2. METHODS ........................................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Field sites ........................................................................................................................... 16 2.2 The GPS system .................................................................................................................. 16 2.3 Capturing and attaching devices ........................................................................................ 16 2.4 Monitoring the potential effects of devices ....................................................................... 19 2.4.1 Lesser Black-backed Gulls ...................................................................................... 19 2.4.2 Great Skuas ............................................................................................................ 20 2.5 Data collection protocols, post-processing and analyses ................................................... 22 2.5.1 Connectivity with proposed and consented wind farms ........................................ 23 2.5.2 Overlap with proposed and consented wind farms ............................................... 23 2.5.2.1 Spatial overlap........................................................................................................ 23 2.5.2.2 Time budgets of birds ............................................................................................. 24 2.5.3 Flight altitudes ....................................................................................................... 24 2.5.4 Formal statistical tests ........................................................................................... 25 3. RESULTS ............................................................................................................................. 27 3.1 Descriptive trip statistics .................................................................................................... 27 3.1.1 Lesser Black-backed Gull ........................................................................................ 27 3.1.2 Great Skua ............................................................................................................. 30 3.2 Connectivity with proposed and consented wind farms .................................................... 31 3.2.1 Lesser Black-backed Gull ........................................................................................ 31 3.2.2 Great Skua ............................................................................................................. 31 May 2011 1 Page No. 3.3 Overlap with proposed and consented wind farms ............................................................ 31 3.3.1 Spatial overlap ....................................................................................................... 31 3.3.1.1 Lesser Black-backed Gull ........................................................................................ 31 3.3.1.2 Great Skua .............................................................................................................. 36 3.3.2 Time budget analyses ............................................................................................ 38 3.3.2.1 Lesser Black-backed Gull ........................................................................................ 38 3.3.2.2 Great Skua .............................................................................................................. 39 3.4 Altitude .............................................................................................................................. 39 3.4.1 Test tag at Orford Ness .......................................................................................... 39 3.4.2 Species altitude data: Lesser Black-backed Gull ..................................................... 41 3.4.2.1 Accuracy ................................................................................................................. 42 3.4.2.2 Precision ................................................................................................................ 45 3.4.3 Species altitude data: Great Skua .......................................................................... 47 3.4.3.1 Accuracy ................................................................................................................. 47 3.4.3.2 Precision ................................................................................................................ 48 4. DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................................ 51 4.1 Caveats in the current data ................................................................................................ 51 4.2 Connectivity with proposed and consented wind farms .................................................... 51 4.3 Overlap with proposed and consented wind farms ............................................................ 52 4.3.1 Spatial overlap ....................................................................................................... 52 4.3.2 Temporal overlap .................................................................................................. 52 4.4 Assessment of the flight altitudes ...................................................................................... 52 4.4.1 Accuracy ................................................................................................................ 52 4.4.2 Precision ................................................................................................................ 53 4.4.3 Flight altitudes ....................................................................................................... 53 4.5 Future study: winter 2010/11 and the 2011 breeding season ............................................ 54 4.6 Concluding comments ........................................................................................................ 55 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ 56 References ............................................................................................................................... 58 Appendices ............................................................................................................................... 63 May 2011 2 LIST OF TABLES Page No. Table 1 Development periods for tags on (a) Lesser Black-backed Gulls and (b) Great Skuas ...................................................................................................................... 18 Table 2 Fate of all (a) Lesser Black-backed Gull and (b) Great Skua nests in this study (one
Recommended publications
  • Option 1 - Net Gain)
    Annex I4 Direct impacts arising from individual Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) (Option 1 - Net Gain) 1 Introduction 1.1.1 This annex sets out the direct impacts of each of the Net Gain recommended Marine Conservation Zones (rMCZs) being proposed only for designation in Option 1 of the Impact Assessment. 1.1.2 Four sets of tables are provided for each rMCZ as follows: • Table 1 – sets out an ecological description of the site, and specifies what ecological features are to be protected by the rMCZ and their conservation objectives; • Table 2 – sets out the cost impacts of the rMCZ by sector. • Table 3 – lists the sectors that have activities currently occurring within or near to the rMCZ but for which no mitigation is required and therefore no cost impacts are anticipated. • Table 4 – sets out the contribution to the Ecological Network Guidance undertaken by the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) • Table 5 – sets out the beneficial impacts to ecosystem services of the rMCZ 2 Impact Assessment 2.1.1 The remainder of this document sets out the individual rMCZ and rMCZ Reference Area assessments. 1 rMCZ NG 1b, Orford Inshore Site area (km2): 71.95 • This site has been proposed for designation under Policy Option 1 only. Table 1. Conservation impacts rMCZ NG 1b, Orford Inshore 1a. Ecological description The site is of high importance as a nursery and spawning ground for fish species, including Dover sole, sprat, lemon sole and sand eel. Skate, ray, crustacean and dogfish are also present; recommended Marine Conservation Zone (rMCZ) NG 1b may be used by foraging sea bird species such as the red- throated diver.
    [Show full text]
  • A Theoretical Framework for Improving Energy Justice in the UK
    Watching the Wind Blow By: A Theoretical Framework for Improving Energy Justice in the UK Rupert Cope Bournemouth University Faculty of Science and Technology the award for which the degree of Masters by Research (MRes) is submitted in partial fulfilment of its requirements Submitted September 2018 Copyright Statement This copy of the thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its copyright rests with its author and due acknowledgement must always be made of the use of any material contained in, or derived from, this thesis. 1 | P a g e Abstract For over thirty years the Brundtland’s Commission’s definition has been widely accepted as the general definition of what sustainable development is. However, there is increasing academic discourse suggesting that aspects of the Brundtland’s definition are inadvertently limiting the potential of contemporary sustainability from the perspectives of both horizontal and vertical actors both nationally and internationally. Through a lack of a clear measuring tool of what effective sustainable development is under Brundtland’s definition, differing interpretations (either deliberately or subconsciously) can be made leading to competing interests between the environmental, economic and social pillars of the based on the interpreter’s subjective interests. Using an overarching definition of SD that overlooks or simplifies varying wants and needs of individuals and groups within a single society this can result in the production of unbalanced policy measures. These unbalanced policies then hamper significant advancement of sustainable technology implementation as they fail to adequately reflect these varied and competing needs. The UK is demonstrating such scenarios in which the skewed application of sustainable development is creating growing numbers of injustice.
    [Show full text]
  • 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report Centrica Plc Corporate Responsibility Report 2008
    2008 Corporate responsibility report Centrica plc Corporate responsibility report 2008 www.centrica.com/cr08 Contents 3 Chief Executive’s introduction 4 Assurance and scope 5 Excerpt from Corporate Citizenship’s Assurance Statement 6 2008 Highlights 7 Business overview 8 Our approach 14 CR Committee and Governance 17 Business principles 22 Key Performance Indicators 25 Key impact areas 26 Climate change and the environment 44 Customer service 56 Securing future energy supplies 64 Health and safety 72 Employees 83 Supply chain 87 Local impact 92 Our stakeholders 94 Customers 97 Investors 99 Employees 101 Suppliers and business partners 103 Governments and regulators 105 Communities 107 NGOs and consumer organisations 109 Media 110 Trade unions 111 Appendix – Memberships 2 Centrica plc Corporate responsibility report 2008 www.centrica.com/cr08 Chief Executive’s introduction Introduction from Sam Laidlaw 2008 was my first full year as a member of the Corporate Responsibility Committee. Throughout the year, the Committee challenged our current performance and debated areas of future activity across a range of critical business issues. Through this continual process of improvement, I have confidence that we are making good progress in developing the necessary structures and processes, allied to a management commitment that will build a sustainable and environmentally aware business for the future. In this report, you can read about our initiatives and performance over the year, as well as our forward- looking plans for 2009 and beyond. As our CR programmes mature, there is an increasing amount of available information to present to our internal and external audiences. As in previous years, we have chosen to use the online environment to report.
    [Show full text]
  • ENERGY - Some Macro and Micro Aspects of Spatial Planning1
    ENERGY - Some Macro and Micro Aspects of Spatial Planning1 I. INTRODUCTION (i) Scope Policy approaches to the finding, generation and conservation of energy are enormous in scope. The issues which touch upon the policy approaches are global in nature and are significant drivers of international political events. Energy security is a primary consideration of all western governments and is a significant factor in political stability in developing countries and of course, in the oil producing countries. Likewise, questions of food security are closely related to fossil fuel availability and price. Political and social unrest in respect of both environmental and economic consequences of energy and food security issues has been evident in recent years. Moreover, the policy drivers in respect of energy generation and conservation are intimately and closely linked to policy measures to address climate change. If there were one word which was most appropriate to start a discussion on how to ‘put the world to rights’, then “energy” might be that word. In this paper I seek to set out something of the broad context which gives rise to a range of domestic policy approaches which materially and significantly affect land use in planning decisions. I seek to identify the range of impacts which energy related policies have upon planning decisions and then identify the present position and trends in respect of energy generation and design. 1 Paper published in the journal of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association, May 2011 2 (ii) Context - Economic Growth and Sustainable Development The tension between economic growth and development which is sustainable has long been identified2.
    [Show full text]
  • Centrica Annual Report 2012
    Centrica plc plc Centrica Annual Report and Accounts 2012 INTEGRATED ENERGY CENTRicA PLC Registered office: Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 5GD Company registered in England Annual Report and Accounts 2012 and Wales No. 3033654 centrica.com Centrica plc Annual Report and Accounts 2012 Centrica plc Annual Report and Accounts 2012 INTEGRATED ENERGY IS WHAT WE DO. It means constantly exploring new ways to source, procure and generate an affordable supply of energy. It means integrating innovation and technology into the home, giving our customers access to energy and services, whenever they need it. It means working with governments, regulators and partners to make the right things happen at the right time. Most important of all, it means empowering our customers to take control of their energy needs as we work towards a low carbon future. INTEGRATED ENERGY FROM CENTRicA. This report is printed on Revive 100 Silk which is made from 100% recycled post- consumer fibre that is Totally Chlorine Free. This paper has been independently certified according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). ONLINE Designed and produced by INTEGRATED ENERGY Photography by David Hares, Mike What it means to us How we achieve it Abrahams, Igor Emmerich, Charlie Fawell Disclaimer and David Partner. This Annual Report and Accounts does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire or dispose of any Centrica shares or other securities. Printed by CPI Colour Limited Use your smartphone or tablet This Annual Report and Accounts contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial ISO14001, FSC certified and CarbonNeutral®.
    [Show full text]
  • Members' Directory 2019-2020
    Directory Sponsor MEMBERS’ DIRECTORY RenewableUK 2019-2020 Members’ Directory 2019-2020 Members’ Directory Micro Grid Renewables Generation Solar Electricity Trading Transmission Distribution Demand-Side Centralised Power Response Generation Smart Storage Cities Wind Smart Homes User Demand EVs 25 EUR million Sales in more than Established 6 manufacturing State of the art average annual investments facilities (last 3 years) 50 countries 1950 plants in 3 countries Who we are Tracing its industrial roots back to 1950, Cablel® Hellenic Cables has evolved into a leading European provider of reliable and competitive cable solutions. With 6 manufacturing plants across 3 countries, Cablel® Hellenic Cables covers a wide range of cable products and solutions, from Land and Submarine Power cables to Fiber Optics, Telecommunication cables and Magnet Wires. Cablel® Hellenic Cables offers a wide range of integrated solutions, including design, manufacturing, planning, project management and installation. In-house R&D and testing facilities guarantee continuous product development and innovation. As the world’s need for sustainable and reliable flow of energy and information continues to increase, we remain focused on our mission to provide top-quality products and services meeting the highest technical and sustainability standards set by our customers. HEAD OFFICE: 33, Amaroussiou - Halandriou Str., 151 25 Maroussi, Athens, GREECE Tel.: +30 210 6787 416, +30 210 6787 900, Fax: +30 210 6787 406 [email protected] www.cablel.com 09-13-2019_KX_CABLEL_168x240mm_FINAL.indd
    [Show full text]
  • Cemlyn Nature Reserve
    Wylfa Newydd Nuclear Power Station - Development Consent Order (EN010007) Written Representation Biodiversity – Cemlyn Nature Reserve Prepared by Teresa Hughes MSc. MCIEEM (Biodiversity Planning) (North Wales Wildlife Trust 20011639, National Trust 20010995, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 20011586) Date 3rd December 2018 (submitted for Deadline 2) From: Simon Roberts To: Wylfa Newydd Cc: Carrie Marchbank Subject: EN010007 Wylfa Newydd Nuclear Power Station: Deadline 2. Submission by RSPB Date: 04 December 2018 12:39:35 Attachments: WYlfa Newydd - RSPB response to the ExA’s written questions Deadline 2 .pdf DCO Evidence - eNGO Biodiversity Cemlyn Nature Reserve FINAL.PDF Ecological Options Final Full Report May 2017.pdf Your ref: EN010007 Our interested party ref: 20011586 Further to the Rule 8 letter please see the attached submissions to the Examination: RSPB response to the Examining Authority’s written questions a joint eNGO written representation: Biodiversity – Cemlyn Nature Reserve a copy of the joint eNGO Ecological Options paper as requested. Kind regards Simon Simon Hugheston-Roberts Swyddog Cadwraeth (Gwaith Achos) / Conservation Officer (Casework) Swyddfa Gogledd Cymru RSPB, Uned 14, Llys Castan, Ffordd y Parc, Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4FH North Wales Office RSPB, Unit 14, Llys Castan, Ffordd y Parc, Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4FH Ffôn/Tel 01248 672850 rspb.org.uk Mae RSPB Cymru’n rhan o’r RSPB, elusen fywyd gwyllt fwyaf y DU, yn ysbrydoli pawb i roi cartref i fyd natur. Ynghyd â’n partneriaid, rydym yn gwarchod adar a bywyd gwyllt sydd mewn perygl fel bod ein trefi, ein harfordir a’n cefn gwlad yn fwrlwm o fywyd unwaith eto.
    [Show full text]
  • Identifying a Range of Options to Prevent Or Reduce Avian Collision with Offshore Wind Farms Using a UK-Based Case Study
    BTO Research Report No. 580 Identifying a Range of Options to Prevent or Reduce Avian Collision with Offshore Wind Farms using a UK-Based Case Study Authors Cook, A.S.C.P.1, Ross-Smith, V.H.1, Roos, S.1, Burton, N.H.K.1, Beale, N.2, Coleman, C.2, Daniel, H.2, Fitzpatrick, S.2, Rankin, E.2, Norman, K.3 and Martin, G.4 1 British Trust for Ornithology; 2 AEA Group; 3 Met Office; 4 University of Birmingham Centre for Ornithology Report of work carried out by The British Trust for Ornithology, AEA Group, the Met Office and the University of Birmingham Centre for Ornithology under contract to Defra May 2011 British Trust for Ornithology The British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU Registered Charity No. 216652 British Trust for Ornithology Identifying a Range of Options to Prevent or Reduce Avian Collision with Offshore Wind Farms using a UK-Based Case Study BTO Research Report No. 580 Cook, A.S.C.P., Ross-Smith, V.H., Roos, S., Burton, N.H.K., Beale, N., Coleman, C., Daniel, H., Fitzpatrick, S., Rankin, E., Norman, K., and Martin, G. Published in May 2011 by the British Trust for Ornithology The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU, UK Copyright British Trust for Ornithology 2009 ISBN 978-1-906204-95-2 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers CONTENTS Page No.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Dundee DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY Connecting the Dots
    University of Dundee DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Connecting the dots A systemic approach to evaluating potential constraints to renewable electricity technology deployment to 2020 and beyond in the United Kingdom Wood, Geoffrey Craig Award date: 2013 Link to publication General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 04. Oct. 2021 Connecting the dots: A systemic approach to evaluating potential constraints to renewable electricity technology deployment to 2020 and beyond in the United Kingdom Geoffrey Craig Wood A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Centre for Energy Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee September 2013 i Contents i Table of Contents iv List of Tables, Figures and Graphs vii List
    [Show full text]
  • Review of Avoidance Rates in Seabirds at Offshore Wind Farms
    Review of Avoidance Rates in Seabirds at Offshore Wind Farms and Applicability of Use in the Band Collision Risk Model – December 2013 Appendix Z to the Response submitted for Deadline I Application Reference: EN010053 15 July 2015 i Review of Avoidance Rates in Seabirds at Offshore Wind Farms and Applicability of Use in the Band Collision Risk Model DECEMBER 2013 REVIEW OF AVOIDANCE RATES IN SEABIRDS AT OFFSHORE WIND FARMS AND APPLICABILITY OF USE IN THE BAND COLLISION RISK MODEL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report has been produced and authored on behalf of SMartWind and Forewind by MacArthur Green, British Trust for Ornithology, NIRAS and Royal Haskoning DHV. Page ii Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Background 2 3 Study Components 5 4 The evidence base for avoidance rates in seabirds 7 5 Derivation of the default 98% avoidance rate and its applicability to seabirds in the marine environment 9 6 Selection of an appropriate avoidance rate to use in Options 3 and 4 of the extended Band Model 11 7 Conclusions 14 8 References 17 Appendices 1 Review of assumptions used in generating avoidance rates for onshore wind farms and applicability for conversion to avoidance rates for offshore wind farms. 2 Reverse calculation of Option 3 numbers to show the avoidance rates that would be required to produce an equivalent collision rate to those derived from Option 1: 2A – Calculations for Dogger Bank Creyke Beck 2B – Calculations for Hornsea Project One 3 Review of avoidance rate estimates for seabirds. 4 Review of avoidance rates used in the assessment of consented offshore wind farms.
    [Show full text]
  • Applicant's Comments on Written Representations and Additional Submissions
    Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm Applicant's comments on Written Representations and Additional Submissions Applicant: Norfolk Boreas Limited Document Reference: ExA.WRR.D3.V1 Deadline 3 Date: December 2019 Revision: Version 1 Author: Royal HaskoningDHV Photo: Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm Date Issue No. Remarks / Reason for Issue Author Checked Approved 16/12/2019 01D First draft for internal review VF/WBD/RHDHV JL/VR/JT JL 18/12/2019 02D Second draft for internal review VF/WBD/RHDHV JL/VR/JT JL 19/12/2019 01F Final for Submission at Deadline 3 BT JL JL Applicant’s comment on Written Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm ExA.WRR.D3.V1 Representations and Additional Submissions December 2019 Page i Table of Contents 1 Comments on Written Representations ................................................................... 5 1.1 NATS Safeguarding Office REP2-082 ......................................................................... 5 1.2 Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) REP2-092 .................................................. 5 1.3 National Federation of Fisherman’s Organisations REP2-076 .................................... 7 1.4 N2RS (No to Relay Stations) REP2-106 .....................................................................14 1.5 Historic England REP2-072 .......................................................................................16 1.6 Cadent Gas Limited REP2-103 ..................................................................................23 1.7 Diana Lockwood REP2-101 ......................................................................................24
    [Show full text]
  • Corporate Responsibility Report 2009 Introduction and Approach Contents
    Corporate responsibility report 2009 Introduction and approach Contents Introduction and approach 3 Chief Executive’s introduction 4 Highlights and challenges 2009 5 Assurance and scope 5 Our approach 6 Understanding our business 7 Our CR strategy 7 CR Committee and governance 8 CR Committee Performance 2009 9 Business case 10 Risk management and internal control 11 Business principles 13 Applying our business principles 13 Business principles performance 2009 14 Employees ‘speaking up’ Corporate responsibility report 2009: Introduction and approach 2 Introduction and approach Chief Executive’s introduction Centrica achieved a great deal in 2009 in what was a very challenging business environment and I am delighted to present this report which describes our corporate responsibility (CR) progress during the year. It highlights how CR is central to our business strategy and demonstrates our ambition for Centrica to be a CR leader. We made transformational changes to the business in 2009, We made good progress in other areas such as health and taking important steps towards our vision of becoming the safety, where we are reporting a significant reduction in injuries, leading integrated energy company. The acquisition of Venture and in building trust with customers as reflected in improved Production and a 20% stake in British Energy means we have a customer satisfaction scores. We have also integrated health, more robust business model, capable of meeting a greater safety and environment metrics into annual performance proportion of our customer’s energy needs from our own reviews which are linked to our employee bonus scheme. sources. And the restructuring of British Gas into a single business will enable us to meet the future energy and energy These are important changes within the business but more is services requirements of our customers.
    [Show full text]