Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Wave and Tidal Stream
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Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Enabling Actions Report PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids July 2013 PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids 2 PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids © Crown Copyright 2013 Published by The Crown Estate. This report is available on The Crown Estate website at: www.thecrownestate.co.uk Dissemination Statement This publication (excluding the logos) may be re-used free of charge in any format or medium. It may only be re-used accurately and not in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as The Crown Estate copyright and use of it must give the title of the source publication. Where third party copyright material has been identified, further use of that material requires permission from the copyright holders concerned. Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this report are entirely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of The Crown Estate, and The Crown Estate is not liable for the accuracy of the information provided or responsible for any use of the content. The contents of this Report are offered in good faith and after due consideration. The authors as individuals or as Epsilon Resource Management , cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from the use of this Report. Opinions expressed in this Report are those of the author and consultees. Acknowledgments The project Sponsor is The Crown Estate. Epsilon Resource Management would like to thank the following for their guidance and invaluable contributions to this project: Toby Gethin, The Crown Estate The project Review Group All delegates at the workshop Bibliographic Policy The Client has agreed that references in this document may be cited as web links as appropriate. Citation Slaski, R.J,1 Hirst, D2 and Gray, S3 (2013). PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids. 1 Mr Richard Slaski. Epsilon Resource Management Limited, Tel: 01387 740098, Email: [email protected] 2 Dr Darren Hirst. Bidwells, Tel: 01738 630666, Email: [email protected] 3 Mrs Sandra Gray. Epsilon Resource Management Limited 3 PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids This report has been published by The Crown Estate as part of its Enabling Actions work to support development of the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters (PFOW) wave and tidal projects. This work aims to accelerate and de-risk the development process, looking at a range of key issues. Work is selected, commissioned and steered by The Crown Estate in close discussion with the PFOW project developers. For more information on The Crown Estate’s work in wave and tidal energy, see www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy/wave-and-tidal/ or contact [email protected]. The Crown Estate’s Wave and Tidal programme hosted a workshop, in Thurso, on 17th and 18th April 2013, to bring together and facilitate discussion between relevant key stakeholders concerned with wave and tidal developments in the PFOW area and their potential impacts on migratory salmonids. The Crown Estate commissioned Epsilon Resource Management Ltd to prepare a Review and Discussion Paper to help advise the workshop, to organize and deliver the workshop, and to prepare this final report which is divided into four main sections: A. Review and Discussion Paper B. Summary of Workshop Outputs C. Recommendations D. Appendices Epsilon Resource Management and The Crown Estate wish to thank all those who have contributed to the project, including the valuable input from Marine Scotland Science, the Review Group members and all workshop participants. 4 PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids Epsilon Resource Management Limited PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Enabling Actions Report ________________________________________________________ Prepared by: Richard Slaski, Dr Darren Hirst & Sandra Gray Date: 26th July 2013 Tel: 01387 740098 Office: Briarlea Holmhead, Auldgirth, Dumfries and Galloway, DG2 0XL __________________________________________________________________ 5 PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................. 9 SECTION A. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION PAPER ............................................ 13 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 14 1.1 The Project ................................................................................................ 14 1.2 Background ............................................................................................... 14 1.3 The Regulatory Context............................................................................ 16 1.4 Scope ......................................................................................................... 17 1.5 Structure of the Review and Discussion Paper ...................................... 18 2 MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.................................................. 19 2.1 Policy Context ........................................................................................... 19 2.1.1 UK Targets ........................................................................................... 19 2.1.2 Progress towards Targets .................................................................... 20 2.1.3 Value of Renewable Energy to the Scottish Economy ........................ 20 2.2 Current Wave and Tidal Development Activity ....................................... 21 2.3 UK Marine Renewable Energy Potential ................................................. 23 2.4 Wave and Tidal Sites in the PFOW area .................................................. 26 2.5 Developer Programmes and Phasing ..................................................... 27 2.6 Wave and Tidal Devices to be Deployed ................................................. 29 2.7 How the Projects might be Built .............................................................. 31 2.7.1 Device Installation ................................................................................ 32 2.7.2 Umbilicals and Power Cables .............................................................. 34 2.7.3 Offshore Substations ........................................................................... 34 2.7.4 Export Cabling ..................................................................................... 35 2.7.5 Operation and Maintenance ................................................................. 35 2.7.6 Decommissioning Requirements ......................................................... 36 3 MIGRATORY SALMONIDS ............................................................................... 37 3.1 Status of Migratory Salmonids ................................................................ 37 3.1.1 Distinction between Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout ............................ 37 3.1.2 Habitats Directive Considerations ........................................................ 37 3.1.3 Status of Migratory Salmon Stocks ...................................................... 40 3.2 Sectors interacting with Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout ....................... 40 3.3 Value of the Sector to the Scottish Economy ......................................... 42 3.4 Migratory Salmonids in the PFOW area .................................................. 42 4 INTERACTIONS ................................................................................................ 45 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 45 4.2 Migration and Swimming Behaviour ....................................................... 45 4.2.1 Knowledge about Atlantic salmon Migration Pathways ........................ 45 4.2.2 Salmon Swimming Behaviour .............................................................. 48 4.3 Interactions ................................................................................................ 48 4.3.1 Introduction to Interactions ................................................................... 48 4.3.2 Noise.................................................................................................... 51 4.3.3 Electrical and Magnetic Fields (EMF) .................................................. 55 6 PFOW wave and tidal stream projects and migratory salmonids 4.3.4 Encounter Risks ................................................................................... 58 4.3.5 Barriers to Migration............................................................................. 63 4.4 Cumulative and In-Combination Effects ................................................. 65 4.5 Conclusion to Interactions ....................................................................... 66 5 KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND RESEARCH ........................................................... 67 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 67 5.2 The Baseline in Scotland – Current Knowledge ..................................... 68 5.3 Knowledge Gaps ....................................................................................... 71 5.4 Research .................................................................................................... 72 5.4.1 Research Priorities .............................................................................