Natura Impact Statement Fenit Harbour Maintenance Dredging and Dumpsite 14996-6001-A Natura Impact Statement February 2015 ISSUE FORM Project number 14996 Document number 6001 Document revision A Document title Natura Impact Statement for Fenit Harbour Maintenance Dredging and Dumpsite Document status Final Document prepared by Monica Kane Document checked by KF-MWP-2014.12.19; JM-MWP-2015.02.12 (ornithology sections) i 14996-6001-A Natura Impact Statement February 2015 Table of contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ II 1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Screening for Appropriate Assessment .............................................................................. 1 1.2 Natura Impact Statement .................................................................................................. 1 2 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Purpose of Assessment ..................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Legislative context ............................................................................................................ 2 2.3 Stages of Appropriate Assessment..................................................................................... 2 3 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................................... 3 3.1 Appropriate Assessment Guidance .................................................................................... 3 3.2 Consultation ..................................................................................................................... 3 3.3 Desk Study ........................................................................................................................ 3 3.4 Field Surveys ..................................................................................................................... 3 3.4.1 Bathymetry ............................................................................................................................................ 4 3.4.2 Current and Tidal Metering ................................................................................................................... 4 3.4.3 Baseline Characterisation Area and Dumpsite ...................................................................................... 4 3.4.4 Sediment Transport Model (STM) ......................................................................................................... 4 3.5 Screening for Appropriate Assessment .............................................................................. 6 3.6 Natura Impact Statement .................................................................................................. 6 4 SCREENING FOR APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 8 4.1 Management of Natura 2000 sites ..................................................................................... 8 4.2 Description of Plan/Project ............................................................................................... 8 4.2.1 Brief Project Description ....................................................................................................................... 8 4.2.2 Purpose of the Project .......................................................................................................................... 9 4.2.3 Site Location and Use ............................................................................................................................ 9 4.2.4 Description of the Dredge Site ............................................................................................................ 13 4.2.5 Description of Dumpsite ..................................................................................................................... 16 4.2.6 Characteristics of the Project .............................................................................................................. 17 4.2.7 Summary of Characteristics of Project ................................................................................................ 23 4.2.8 Identification of Other Projects or Plans or Activities ......................................................................... 25 4.3 Identification of Natura 2000 Sites .................................................................................. 26 4.3.1 Zone of Impact Influence .................................................................................................................... 26 4.3.2 Identification of Natura 2000 and Ramsar Sites ................................................................................. 26 4.3.3 Characteristics of Natura 2000 and Ramsar Sites ............................................................................... 29 4.3.4 Conservation Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 32 ii 14996-6001-A Natura Impact Statement February 2015 4.4 Identification of Potential Impacts ................................................................................... 33 4.5 Assessment of Significance of Potential Impacts .............................................................. 33 4.5.1 Habitat Loss and Alteration ................................................................................................................. 34 4.5.2 Habitat or Species Fragmentation....................................................................................................... 35 4.5.3 Disturbance and/or Displacement of Species ..................................................................................... 36 4.5.4 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................................... 36 4.5.5 Cumulative/In-combination Impacts .................................................................................................. 37 4.6 Conclusion of Screening Stage ......................................................................................... 38 5 NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT .................................................................................. 39 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 39 5.2 Natura 2000 Sites ............................................................................................................ 39 5.3 Zone of Influence of Dredging Operation ......................................................................... 40 5.4 Zone of Influence of Dumping at Sea Operation ............................................................... 41 5.4.1 Tralee Bay Complex SAC (002070) ...................................................................................................... 41 5.4.2 Akeragh, Banna and Barrow Harbour SAC (000332) ........................................................................... 49 5.4.3 Tralee Bay Complex SPA (004188) ...................................................................................................... 52 5.4.4 Magharee Islands SAC (002261) ......................................................................................................... 59 5.4.5 Magharee Islands SPA (004125) .......................................................................................................... 60 5.5 Assessment of Potentially Signficant Effects To Natura 2000 Sites .................................... 64 5.5.1 Habitat Loss ......................................................................................................................................... 64 5.5.2 Habitat Alteration (water quality) ....................................................................................................... 65 5.5.3 Habitat and Species Fragmentation .................................................................................................... 68 5.5.4 Disturbance and/or displacement of species ...................................................................................... 68 5.5.5 Water quality and resource (otter) ..................................................................................................... 70 5.6 Assessment of Potentially Significant Cumulative Effects ................................................. 71 5.6.1 Harbour Operations ............................................................................................................................ 71 5.6.2 Fenit Harbour and Marina Expansion Project ..................................................................................... 71 5.6.3 Oyster Fishing ...................................................................................................................................... 71 5.6.4 Point and Diffuse Pollution ................................................................................................................. 71 5.7 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 72 5.7.1 Timing of Dredging .............................................................................................................................. 72 5.7.2