The Proposed Dredging of the Navigation Channel at Sligo Harbour Vol. 3: Natura Impact Statement, to inform Appropriate Assessment rpsgroup.com Sligo Harbour Dredging Natura Impact Statement An ecological impact assessment to support the Appropriate Assessment Process Produced by Aqua-Fact International Services Ltd On behalf of RPS Limited Issued October 2012 AQUA-FACT INTERNATIONAL SERVICES ltd 12 KILKERRIN park TUAM rd GALWAY city www.aquafact.ie [email protected] tel +353 (0) 91 756812 fax +353 (0) 91 756888 Sligo Harbour Dredging RPS Ireland Ltd Natura Impact Statement October 2012 ii /JN1075 Sligo Harbour Dredging RPS Ireland Ltd Natura Impact Statement October 2012 Table of Contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 1.1. The requirement for an assessment under Article 6 ............................... 1 1.2. The aim of this report .............................................................................. 2 1.3. Background – an overview of the Sligo Harbour Dredging project.......... 2 1.4. Consultation ............................................................................................ 3 1.4.1. Government Departments ............................................................................. 3 1.4.2. Other Bodies ................................................................................................. 3 1.5. Constraints.............................................................................................. 4 2. The Appropriate Assessment process .................................................. 5 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 5 2.2. Stages .................................................................................................... 6 2.3. Alternatives ............................................................................................. 7 2.3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 7 2.3.2. Alternative dredging methods........................................................................ 8 2.3.3. Alternative timing of works ............................................................................ 8 2.3.4. Alternative dredge spoil disposal methods .................................................... 8 2.3.5. Alternative sea disposal sites ........................................................................ 9 3. The Ecological Impact Assessment ....................................................... 9 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................. 9 3.1.1. Description of the project ............................................................................ 10 4. Natura 2000 sites ................................................................................... 11 4.1. Areas and Species of Scientific Interest – Sligo Harbour ...................... 12 4.1.1. Areas of Scientific Interest (ASI).................................................................. 13 4.1.1.1. Areas of Scientific Interest in County Sligo 1978 ...................................................... 14 4.1.1.2. Areas of Scientific Interest in County Sligo 1981 ...................................................... 14 4.1.2. Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) ......................................................... 15 4.1.3. Special Protection Area (SPA) .................................................................... 16 4.1.4. Natural Heritage Area (NHA)....................................................................... 16 4.1.5. Designations under the Wildlife Act, 1976 ................................................... 17 4.1.6. Proposed Nature Reserve in private ownership .......................................... 17 4.1.7. County Geological Sites .............................................................................. 17 4.1.8. International Reserves/Conventions............................................................ 17 4.2. Designated sites in the vicinity of the project ........................................ 18 4.2.1. Sligo Harbour .............................................................................................. 19 4.3. Characteristics of the designated sites ................................................. 20 4.3.1. Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay SAC (Site code: 000627) .......................... 20 4.3.1.1. Conservation Objectives for Cummeen Strand SAC ................................................ 22 4.3.1.2. Other Annexed species present within the SAC ....................................................... 23 iii /JN1075 Sligo Harbour Dredging RPS Ireland Ltd Natura Impact Statement October 2012 4.3.2. Cummeen Strand SPA (Site code: 004035) ................................................ 24 4.3.2.1. Conservation Objectives Cummeen Strand SPA (Site code: 004035) ...................... 25 4.3.3. Lough Gill SAC (Site code: 001976)............................................................ 27 4.3.3.1. Conservation Objectives for Lough Gill SAC ............................................................ 29 4.3.3.2. Endangered fish species Lough Gill SAC................................................................. 30 4.4. Desk Study ........................................................................................... 31 4.4.1. Intertidal habitats......................................................................................... 31 4.4.1.1. Aquatic Services Unit, UCC – Dorrins Strand 2005 .................................................. 31 4.4.1.2. Aquatic Services Unit, UCC Intertidal Survey 2007 .................................................. 33 4.4.1.3. Aquatic Services Unit, UCC Intertidal Transect Survey 2007.................................... 34 4.4.1.3.1. Sligo Harbour Transect 1 ......................................................................................... 34 4.4.1.3.1.1.20m from the shoreline – T1 high shore station........................................................ 36 4.4.1.3.1.2.900m from the shoreline – T1, mid-shore station ..................................................... 36 4.4.1.3.1.3.1950m from the shoreline – T1, low shore station .................................................... 36 4.4.1.3.2. Sligo Harbour Transect 2 ......................................................................................... 36 4.4.1.3.2.1.185m from the shoreline – T2, upper shore station .................................................. 37 4.4.1.3.2.2.1460m from the shoreline – T2, mid-shore station ................................................... 37 4.4.1.3.2.3.1990m from the shoreline – T2, low shore station .................................................... 37 4.4.1.3.3. Sligo Harbour Transect 3 ......................................................................................... 38 4.4.1.3.3.1.20m from the shoreline – T3, upper shore station .................................................... 38 4.4.1.3.3.2.60m from the shoreline – T3, mid-shore station ....................................................... 38 4.4.1.3.3.3.130m from the shoreline – T3, lower shore station ................................................... 38 4.4.1.4. BIOMAR and Office of Public Works intertidal surveys ............................................. 39 4.4.2. Subtidal habitats ......................................................................................... 41 4.4.2.1. BIOMAR and Office of Public Works subtidal surveys .............................................. 41 4.4.3. Birds ........................................................................................................... 41 4.4.3.1. Birds – Activities and threats ................................................................................... 43 4.4.3.2. Sligo Harbour - bird counts ...................................................................................... 44 4.4.3.3. Birdwatch Ireland Sligo Branch ................................................................................ 45 4.4.3.4. Drumcliff Bay Estuary .............................................................................................. 46 4.4.4. Marine Mammals ........................................................................................ 48 4.4.4.1. Whale and Dolphin Populations ............................................................................... 48 4.4.4.2. Seal populations...................................................................................................... 49 4.5. Field Survey – AQUAFACT 2010 ......................................................... 52 4.5.1. Intertidal survey 2010 .................................................................................. 52 4.5.1.1. Materials and Methods - 2010 ................................................................................. 53 4.5.1.2. Results 2010 ........................................................................................................... 53 4.5.1.2.1. Anthony Lynch - Clam site - Northern Walkover ....................................................... 53 4.5.1.2.2. Sligo Intertidal – navigation channel area................................................................. 63 4.5.2. Infaunal survey 2010 ................................................................................... 69 4.5.2.1. Sampling Procedure & Processing .........................................................................