Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex Marine Ecological Assessment Report to Southern Launch Prepared by J Diversity Pty Ltd Rev 1, 10 June 2021 Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex Marine Ecological Assessment, June 2021 Cover photo: western blue groper Achoerodus gouldii at Redbanks, Whalers Way. Photo: J. Brook, November 2016. Disclaimer The findings and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Southern Launch Pty Ltd. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this report are factually correct, the author does not accept responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the contents. The author does not accept liability for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this report. 2 Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex Marine Ecological Assessment, June 2021 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 8 2 Ecological values of the Thorny Passage Marine Park............................................................. 12 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 12 2.2 Shoreline habitats ........................................................................................................ 12 2.3 Benthic habitats........................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Invertebrates ............................................................................................................... 14 2.5 Fishes and sharks ......................................................................................................... 14 2.6 Marine mammals......................................................................................................... 15 2.6.1 Australian sea lion ................................................................................................ 15 2.6.2 Long nosed fur seal ............................................................................................... 16 2.6.3 Cetaceans ............................................................................................................ 18 2.7 Seabirds ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.7.1 Short-tailed shearwater ........................................................................................ 19 2.7.2 Crested Tern ........................................................................................................ 20 2.7.3 Other seabirds...................................................................................................... 20 3 Ecological values of the Southern Ocean ............................................................................... 22 4 Impact Assessment.............................................................................................................. 34 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 34 4.2 Collision of debris with fauna........................................................................................ 35 4.2.1 Liguanea Island..................................................................................................... 35 4.2.2 Southern Ocean.................................................................................................... 38 4.3 Other debris impacts.................................................................................................... 40 4.3.1 Toxic contaminants............................................................................................... 40 4.3.2 Crushing or smothering of benthic organisms......................................................... 41 4.3.3 Ingestion of debris ................................................................................................ 41 4.3.4 Habitat changes.................................................................................................... 41 4.4 Operational noise ........................................................................................................ 41 4.4.1 Birds .................................................................................................................... 42 4.4.2 Pinnipeds ............................................................................................................. 42 4.4.3 Southern right whale ............................................................................................ 46 4.5 Construction noise ....................................................................................................... 46 4.6 Monitoring, management and mitigation ...................................................................... 46 3 Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex Marine Ecological Assessment, June 2021 5 Summary of conclusions ...................................................................................................... 48 6 References .......................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix 1. Southern Launch - Liguanea Island Seal Risk Assessment ............................................ 56 Table of Figures Figure 1. Potential marine impact zone associated with rocket launches from the WWOLC, showing Polar and Sun Synchronous trajectories. ........................................................................................ 8 Figure 2. Location of the Potential Marine Impact Zone in relation to the Thorny Passage Marine Park and Coffin Bay and Lincoln National Parks. ..................................................................................... 9 Figure 3. Shoreline and benthic habitats of Whalers Way and Liguanea Island. Source: DEW 2021a, b. .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Figure 4. Landmarks on Liguanea Island separating four sub-colonies ............................................ 17 Figure 5. Dolphin aerial survey areas. Source: Bilgmann et al. 2019. .............................................. 18 Figure 6. Distribution of breeding colonies of short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris on Liguanea Island. Source: Robinson et al. 1996............................................................................... 20 Figure 7. Map of offshore assemblage patterns in southern Australia. Source: Pitcher et al. 2018. .. 22 Figure 8. Commonwealth Marine Parks. Source: DAWE (2018). ..................................................... 23 Figure 9. Range of possible bearings for sun synchronous and polar trajectories from each launch site. Source: Southern Launch (see Appendix 1)............................................................................ 36 Figure 10. Isopleths showing probability of impact from falling debris associated with a particular rocket launch scenario (Perigree rocket, sun synchronous trajectory). Source: Southern Launch. .... 40 Figure 11.Predicted noise level contours from modelling of launches at Sites A and B. Source: AECOM 2020. ......................................................................................................................................... 43 Figure 12. Pinniped colonies near the Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska. Source: Brown & Root Environmental 1996.................................................................................................................... 44 Figure 13. Pinniped haul-out sites near launch sites at the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Source: USAF 2018. ......................................................................................................................................... 45 Table of Tables Table 1. Contributions of this document to responses to the project assessment guidelines. .......... 10 Table 2. Summary of megafauna and bird species that may be present within the PMIZ ................. 24 Table 3. Size of suborbital vehicles proposed for launch from the WWOLC. Note that dry mass = without fuel, wet mass = with fuel (whether solid or liquid), n/a = not applicable. Source: compiled from information provided by Southern Launch. .......................................................................... 34 Table 4. Size of orbital vehicles proposed for launch from the WWOLC. Note that dry mass = without fuel, wet mass = with fuel (whether solid or liquid), n/a = not applicable. Source: compiled from information provided by Southern Launch. .................................................................................. 35 Table 5. Probabilities of seal casualties from air burst events. Source: Southern Launch (Appendix 1) .................................................................................................................................................. 37 Table 6. Probabilities of seal casualties from ground burst events. Source: Southern Launch (Appendix 1)............................................................................................................................... 38 Table 7. Critical periods for species potentially impacted by launches. ..........................................