Chapter 12: Marine Ecology URS-EIA-REP-204635 Table of Contents 12 Marine Ecology ......................................................................................... 12-1 12.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 12-1 12.2 Scoping ............................................................................................................ 12-1 12.3 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries ........................................................................ 12-2 12.3.1 Project Phases ..................................................................................... 12-2 12.3.2 Project Boundaries ............................................................................... 12-2 12.3.2.1 Project Area ................................................................................. 12-2 12.3.2.2 Study Area ................................................................................... 12-3 12.3.2.3 Survey Areas ................................................................................ 12-4 12.3.3 Baseline Data ....................................................................................... 12-4 12.3.3.1 Secondary Data ............................................................................ 12-4 12.3.3.2 Data Gaps .................................................................................... 12-5 12.3.3.3 Primary Data / Baseline Surveys .................................................... 12-5 12.3.4 Data Assumptions and Limitations ....................................................... 12-19 12.4 Baseline Characteristics ................................................................................... 12-19 12.4.1 Black Sea Overview ............................................................................ 12-19 12.4.2 Plankton ............................................................................................ 12-22 12.4.2.1 Background ................................................................................ 12-22 12.4.2.2 Plankton Survey.......................................................................... 12-22 12.4.2.3 Summary ................................................................................... 12-31 12.4.3 Benthic communities .......................................................................... 12-32 12.4.3.1 Background and Literature Review ............................................... 12-32 12.4.3.2 Survey ....................................................................................... 12-35 12.4.3.3 Summary ................................................................................... 12-57 12.4.4 Deep Sea Benthic Habitats .................................................................. 12-57 12.4.5 Fish ................................................................................................... 12-58 12.4.5.1 Background and Literature Review ............................................... 12-58 12.4.5.2 Survey ....................................................................................... 12-65 12.4.5.3 Summary ................................................................................... 12-72 12.4.6 Seabirds ............................................................................................ 12-73 12.4.6.1 Background and Literature Review ............................................... 12-73 12.4.6.2 Survey ....................................................................................... 12-75 12.4.6.3 Summary ................................................................................... 12-87 12.4.7 Marine mammals ................................................................................ 12-88 12.4.7.1 Background and Literature Review ............................................... 12-88 12.4.7.2 Survey ........................................................................................ 12-91 12.4.7.3 Summary .................................................................................. 12-100 12.4.8 Protected Areas and Species ............................................................. 12-101 12.4.8.1 Protected Areas ........................................................................ 12-101 12.4.8.2 Protected Species ..................................................................... 12-108 12.4.9 Critical Habitat ................................................................................. 12-109 12.4.9.1 Overview .................................................................................. 12-109 URS-EIA-REP-204635 i Chapter 12 Marine Ecology 12.4.9.2 Critical Habitat for Endangered Species ...................................... 12-110 12.4.9.3 Critical Habitat for Migratory and Congregatory Species .............. 12-110 12.5 Impact Assessment ....................................................................................... 12-111 12.5.1 Impact Assessment Methodology ...................................................... 12-111 12.5.1.1 Impact Assessment Criteria ....................................................... 12-113 12.5.1.2 Modelling Undertaken ............................................................... 12-121 12.5.2 Assessment of Impacts: Construction and Pre-Commissioning ............. 12-121 12.5.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 12-121 12.5.2.2 Assessment of Potential Impacts (Pre-Mitigation)........................ 12-123 12.5.2.3 Mitigation and Monitoring .......................................................... 12-135 12.5.2.4 Residual Impacts: Construction and Pre-Commissioning .............. 12-139 12.5.3 Assessment of Impacts: Commissioning and Operational Phase .......... 12-146 12.5.3.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 12-146 12.5.3.2 Assessment of Potential Impacts (Pre-Mitigation)........................ 12-146 12.5.3.3 Mitigation and Monitoring .......................................................... 12-147 12.5.3.4 Residual Impacts: Commissioning and Operational Phase ............ 12-147 12.5.4 Assessment of Impacts: Decommissioning Phase ............................... 12-149 12.5.4.1 Introduction ............................................................................. 12-149 12.5.4.2 Assessment of Potential Impacts (Pre-Mitigation) ........................ 12-149 12.5.4.3 Mitigation and Monitoring .......................................................... 12-150 12.6 Unplanned Events ......................................................................................... 12-151 12.7 Cumulative Impacts ....................................................................................... 12-152 12.8 Conclusions................................................................................................... 12-152 ii URS-EIA-REP-204635 Tables Table 12.1 Marine Ecology Surveys (2009-2011) ................................................................ 12-6 Table 12.2 Marine Benthic Ecology, Marine Mammal and Seabird Surveys July 2013 ........... 12-11 Table 12.3 Survey Methodologies .................................................................................... 12-14 Table 12.4 Taxonomic Composition of Phytoplankton ....................................................... 12-25 Table 12.5 Abundance of Dominant Phytoplankton Taxa in November 2010 and April 2011 Surveys ......................................................................................................................... 12-26 Table 12.6 Zooplankton Species Observed in 2010 and 2011 ............................................ 12-28 Table 12.7 Macroalgae Species Observed Listed in Red Data Book of Krasnodar Krai (August 2011) ............................................................................................................................ 12-39 Table 12.8 Abundance and Biomass of Dominant Species in May to June 2009 Survey ....... 12-41 Table 12.9 Abundance And Species Richness by Sediment Type in July 2013 Survey Samples ........................................................................................................................ 12-44 Table 12.10 Average Abundance of Species Present in Sand Samples ................................ 12-45 Table 12.11 Average Abundance of Top 10 Species Present in Mixed Sediment Samples ..... 12-46 Table 12.12 Average abundance of Top 10 Species Present in Coarse Sediment Samples ... 12-46 Table 12.13 Average Abundance of Top 10 Species Present in Mud Sediment Samples ....... 12-47 Table 12.14 Marine Habitats Identified During the July 2013 Survey ................................. 12-49 Table 12.15 Species of Conservation Interest Observed in the North Eastern Black Sea Region .................................................................................................................................... 12-60 Table 12.16 Species Composition, Abundance and Weight from Fish Trawls (November 2010) ............................................................................................................................ 12-69 Table 12.17 Fish Species Observed in Trawl and Gillnet Surveys (April - June 2011) ........... 12-71 Table 12.18 Seabird and Coastal Species Groups in North-Eastern Black Sea Region (Ref. 12.1) .................................................................................................................................... 12-73 Table 12.19 Seabird Species Observed