Moray Offshore Renewables Limited - Environmental Statement Telford, Stevenson and MacColl Offshore Wind Farms and Transmission Infrastructure 8 Human Environment 8.1 Commercial Fisheries 8.1 8.1.1 Summary of Effects and Mitigation 8.1.1.1 For the purposes of this assessment, salmon and sea trout fisheries in the Moray Firth are separately addressed to other commercial fisheries, as a result of their beinG located largely in-river (with the exception of some coastal netting) and beinG different in nature to the majority of marine commercial fishing activities. CHAPTER 8.1.1.2 This chapter presents an assessment of the likely significant effects of the construction, operation and decommissioning of the three proposed wind farm sites on commercial fisheries. 8.1.1.3 Information supporting this assessment has been collected from a data review and consultation as explained in Chapter 5.1 (Commercial Fisheries). 8.1.2 Summary of Effects Commercial Fisheries 8.1.2.1 As described in Chapter 5.1 (Commercial Fisheries) and supported in Technical Appendix 5.1 A (Commercial Fisheries Technical Report), the three proposed wind farm sites are principally located on scallop grounds, and to a lesser extent squid grounds. There is a very low level of whitefish activity. The site records moderate levels of fishing activity compared to grounds elsewhere in the Moray Firth, and relatively low levels of activity on a national scale. 8.1.2.2 The construction of Telford, Stevenson and MacColl wind farms will result in increasingly restricted access to fishing grounds within the site as the construction phase progresses. It is likely that all installed infrastructure, including turbines and met masts, will have temporary safety zones (up to 500 m) applied around them during construction. It is not considered, however, that inter array cables will have the same safety zones and the risks associated with fishing in the immediate vicinity of this infrastructure during the construction phase are considered to be outside of acceptable limits. This would result in vessels being excluded from these areas. The residual effect upon commercial fishing activities would be a moderate loss of fishing grounds during the construction phase. 8.1.2.3 It is likely that 50 m safety zones will apply to all fully installed turbines and met masts. Outside of these zones it is considered that vessels will regain access to fishinG grounds in the operational wind farm once the appropriate post-construction surveys, and if necessary seabed rectification measures, have been undertaken and the safety risk is considered to fall within acceptable limits. The degree to which access is regained is however dependent upon the final design of the three proposed wind farms and the resulting changes to normal fishing practices. The level of effect arisinG from complete loss or restricted access to fishing grounds in the operational phase therefore remains at moderate. 8.1.2.4 It should be noted that the purpose of the construction management programme is also to ensure that the effects described are kept within the significance levels ascribed in this ES throughout both the construction and operational phases of the development. Section 3 – Offshore Generating Station Impact Assessment 8-1 Moray Offshore Renewables Limited - Environmental Statement Telford, Stevenson and MacColl Offshore Wind Farms and Transmission Infrastructure 8.1.2.5 MORL has undertaken a significant programme of early engagement with the fishinG industry and is committed to continuing to explore and develop mitigation options in consultation with the industry. At the current time, MORL is proposing to undertake fishing trials using modified scallop dredge gear with a view to identifyinG enhancements to traditional scallop fishinG practices that may be of benefit to both the developer and the scallop fleet, subject to the Scallop Association’s continuing interest. 8.1.2.6 MORL will continue to facilitate ongoing dialogue throughout the pre-construction, construction and operational phases of the development, which will continue to discuss the mitigation options under investigation, as well as defining the protocol for engagement during the construction and operation phases. 8.1.2.7 A summary of the Commercial Fisheries effects pre and post mitigation is shown below in Table 8.1-1. In each instance, the effect has been identified. In the instances where the effect is upon fish and shellfish species, the summary table provided in Chapter 7.2 (Fish and Shellfish Ecology) should be referred to. Table 8.1-1 Commercial Fish Impact Summary Effect Pre-Mitigation Effect Mitigation Post-Mitigation Effect Construction / Decommissioning Adverse Effects to Commercial Fish and Shellfish Populations Minor – all target species None proposed Minor – all target species (indirect effect upon commercial fishing activities) Adverse Effects on Recreational Fish Minor-moderate (noise) None proposed Minor-moderate (noise) Populations Moderate – scallop Moderate – scallop Complete Loss or fishery fishery Restricted Access to None proposed Traditional Fishing Moderate – sQuid fishery Moderate – sQuid fishery Grounds Minor – whitefish fishery Minor – whitefish fishery Acceptable for turbines, met masts and gravity Application of 50 m safety zones base OSPs installed for infrastructure installed during Within acceptable limits during the construction the construction phase. phase, providing 50 m Safety Issues for Fishing safety zones are applied Vessels Application of operational Outside of acceptable safety zones & ongoing Within acceptable limits limits for inter array cables consultation to reduce risks to acceptable limits Increased Steaming Minor – all fisheries None proposed Minor – all fisheries Times to Fishing Grounds Moderate– scallop fishery Moderate– scallop Displacement of Fishing fishery Moderate – sQuid fishery None proposed Vessels into Other Areas Moderate – sQuid fishery Minor – whitefish fishery Minor – whitefish fishery 8-2 Section 3 – Offshore Generating Station Impact Assessment Moray Offshore Renewables Limited - Environmental Statement Telford, Stevenson and MacColl Offshore Wind Farms and Transmission Infrastructure Effect Pre-Mitigation Effect Mitigation Post-Mitigation Effect Minor – all fisheries Minor – all fisheries except except crab and lobster crab and lobster fishery 8.1 Interference with Fishing Construction manaGement fishery Activities programme Moderate - crab and Minor - crab and lobster lobster fishery fishery Operation Adverse Effects on CHAPTER Commercial Fish and Shellfish Populations Minor – all target species None proposed Minor – all target species (indirect effect upon commercial fishing activities) Adverse Effects on Recreational Fish Minor None proposed Minor Populations Moderate– scallop Ongoing development of the fishery, could be Complete Loss or Moderate– scallop fishery mitiGation proposals, such as reduced throuGh the Restricted Access to Moderate – sQuid fishery gear modification trials, gear modification trials Traditional Fishing however at the current time no Grounds Moderate – sQuid fishery Minor – whitefish fishery mitiGation has been defined Minor – whitefish fishery. Acceptable for fully installed turbines, met Application of 50 m operational masts and gravity base Within acceptable limits safety zones OSPs, providing 50 m safety zones are applied Safety Issues for Fishing Vessels Within acceptable limits for inter array cables Cable burial and protection provided appropriate Within acceptable limits and post construction surveys post installation measures are completed Increased Steaming Minor – all fisheries None proposed Minor – all fisheries Times to Fishing Grounds Obstacles on the Seabed Post Within acceptable limits Standard industry practice Within acceptable limits Construction Moderate– scallop fishery, could be Moderate– scallop fishery reduced throuGh the Displacement of Fishing Moderate – sQuid fishery None proposed gear modification trials Vessels into Other Areas Minor – whitefish fishery Moderate – sQuid fishery Minor – whitefish fishery. Extension of construction Interference with Fishing Minor – all fisheries manaGement programme to Minor – all fisheries Activities include operations Section 3 – Offshore Generating Station Impact Assessment 8-3 Moray Offshore Renewables Limited - Environmental Statement Telford, Stevenson and MacColl Offshore Wind Farms and Transmission Infrastructure Salmon and Sea Trout Fisheries 8.1.2.8 Effects on salmon and sea trout fisheries will occur if the ecology of the species is negatively affected as a result of the construction / decommissioning and operational phases of the three proposed wind farm developments. This is fully discussed in Chapter 7.2 (Fish and Shellfish Ecology). In general terms, effects on salmon and sea trout are expected to be of minor significance, with the exception of construction noise, which has been assessed to be of minor-moderate significance. 8.1.2.9 The impact assessment on these salmon and sea trout has taken a precautionary approach, where conservation assumptions have had to be made due to the lack of current knowledge on the use that these species may make of the area of the three proposed wind farms during the construction phase. 8.1.2.10 In general terms, the likely effects of the construction phase on fish and shellfish species have been assessed to be of minor significance. An exception to this is construction noise, which has been identified as having potential to result in significant