BUTE CUMBRAE CABLE INSTALLATION ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORTING INFORMATION BMC Ref: CB0144-1009 08th October 2018 Prepared by: Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd. Seaforth House Seaforth Place Burntisland KY3 9AX Tel: +44 (0)1592 872939 www.briggsmarine.com SSEN – Bute Cumbrae Cable Installation V7.0 – 08.10.2018 Environmental Supporting Information CB0144-1009 CONTENTS Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Marine Surveys ............................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Submarine Cable Installation ........................................................................................................ 10 1.4 Intertidal Zone ............................................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Vessels ......................................................................................................................................... 11 2 MARINE CONSENT .............................................................................................................................. 12 2.1 Marine Licence .............................................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Scottish National Marine Plan ....................................................................................................... 12 2.3 General Planning .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.4 Sea Fisheries ................................................................................................................................ 13 2.5 Submarine Cables ......................................................................................................................... 14 2.6 Clyde Marine Spatial Plan ............................................................................................................. 15 2.7 Stakeholder Consultation .............................................................................................................. 16 2.8 Environmental Assessment Scope ................................................................................................ 16 Marine non-native species ........................................................................................................................ 18 3 ECOLOGICAL PROTECTED SITES ..................................................................................................... 19 3.1 Environmental Assessment Scope ................................................................................................ 19 3.2 Sites of International Importance ................................................................................................... 20 3.3 Potential Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 21 4 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................. 22 4.1 EU Legislation ............................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Consultation .................................................................................................................................. 22 4.3 Physical Environment .................................................................................................................... 22 4.4 Potential Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 24 5 BENTHIC AND INTERTIDAL ECOLOGY .............................................................................................. 25 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 25 5.2 Legislation and Policy Context ...................................................................................................... 25 5.3 European Habitats Directive .......................................................................................................... 25 5.4 Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 ........................................................................................................... 25 5.5 Biodiversity Action Plan (BAPs) ..................................................................................................... 26 5.6 Benthic and Intertidal Ecology ....................................................................................................... 26 5.6.1 Subtidal Area ............................................................................................................................. 26 5.6.2 A3.3 Atlantic and Mediterranean low energy infralittoral rock .................................................... 26 5.6.3 A5.354 Virgularia mirabilis and Ophiura spp. with Pecten maximus on circalittoral sandy or shelly mud 27 5.6.4 A5.361 Seapens and burrowing megafauna in circalittoral fine mud ......................................... 27 5.6.5 A5.37x Seapens and burrowing megafauna in deep circalittoral fine mud ................................. 27 5.6.6 Intertidal Habitats ...................................................................................................................... 27 5.6.7 Kerrylamont Bay, Bute .............................................................................................................. 27 Page 2 of 64 SSEN – Bute Cumbrae Cable Installation V7.0 – 08.10.2018 Environmental Supporting Information CB0144-1009 5.6.8 Bell Bay, Cumbrae .................................................................................................................... 28 5.7 Cable Installation ........................................................................................................................... 34 5.8 Direct loss and damage to habitats and species ........................................................................... 35 5.9 Toxic and non-toxic contamination ................................................................................................ 35 5.10 Non-native species introductions ................................................................................................... 35 5.11 Potential Impacts During Operations and Maintenance ................................................................. 36 5.12 Impact, Management and Mitigation Summary ............................................................................. 37 6 MARINE MAMMALS FISH AND OTTERS ............................................................................................. 38 6.1 Legislation and Policy Context ...................................................................................................... 38 6.2 Cetaceans ..................................................................................................................................... 38 6.2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 38 6.2.2 Project Area .............................................................................................................................. 41 6.2.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 43 6.3 Pinnipeds ...................................................................................................................................... 44 6.3.1 Grey or Atlantic Seal ................................................................................................................. 44 6.3.2 Common or Harbour Seal ......................................................................................................... 44 6.3.3 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 44 6.4 Otters ............................................................................................................................................ 45 6.5 Ornithology .................................................................................................................................... 45 Potential effects to seabirds during operations .......................................................................................... 47 6.6 Fish and Shellfish .......................................................................................................................... 49 6.7 Fish Ecology.................................................................................................................................. 52 6.7.1 Spawning Grounds and Nursery Area ....................................................................................... 52 6.7.2 Noise-sensitive species ............................................................................................................