South Marine Plan Habitat Regulations Assessment: Appropriate Assessment Information Report Draft for consultation November 2016 DRAFT Page intentionally left blank. DRAFT MMO1112: South Marine Plan Habitat Regulations Assessment: Appropriate Assessment Information Report October 2015 Report prepared by: ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd DRAFT Version Author Note 0.1 PSW First draft 0.2 PSW Final 0.3 PSW Final - Policy Codes Included © Marine Management Organisation 2014 You may use and Re-use the information featured on this website (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government- licence/ to view the licence or write to: Information Policy Team The National Archives Kew London TW9 4DU Email: [email protected] Information about this publication and further copies are available from: Marine Management Organisation Lancaster House Hampshire Court Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YH Tel: 0300 123 1032 Email: [email protected] Website: www.gov.uk/mmo If referencing this document, please cite it as: [MMO1112South Marine Plan Habitat Regulations Assessment: Appropriate Assessment Information Report, October 2015 DRAFT Contents Executive summary .................................................................................................. 5 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Report background ............................................................................................ 8 1.2 South Marine Plan HRA process ..................................................................... 11 1.2.1 Pre-screening review ............................................................................. 11 1.2.2 Screening review ................................................................................... 11 1.2.3 Appropriate Assessment information review .......................................... 14 1.3 Report structure............................................................................................... 15 2 Assessment Approach ....................................................................................... 16 2.1 Assessment scope key considerations ............................................................ 16 2.2 Key stages of the assessment process ........................................................... 16 2.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 16 2.2.2 Step 1: Impact pathways review ............................................................ 18 2.2.3 Step 2: Identify activities to which features are sensitive ....................... 19 2.2.4 Step 3: Activity-based screening of European/Ramsar sites ................. 19 2.2.5 Step 4: Detailed pathway-feature sensitivity review ............................... 20 2.2.6 Step 5: Assessment of effects on European/Ramsar sites .................... 21 3 Assessment Results ........................................................................................... 23 3.1 Step 1: Impact pathways review ...................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Aquaculture ............................................................................................ 23 3.1.2 Beneficial re-use of sediment ................................................................. 24 3.2 Step 2: Identify activities to which features are sensitive ................................. 29 3.3 Step 3: Activity-based screening of European/Ramsar sites ........................... 29 3.4 Step 4(1): Habitat sensitivities ......................................................................... 30 3.4.1 Designated sites with habitat features ................................................... 30 3.4.2 Interest features summary list ................................................................ 31 3.4.3 Sensitivities ofDRAFT habitats to plan activities ................................................ 32 3.4.4 Physical loss/gain of habitat (loss of habitat in development footprint; impact pathway 1) ................................................................................. 32 3.4.5 Physical damage (direct, indirect and temporary damage to habitat; impact pathways 2 and 4) ...................................................................... 33 3.4.6 Toxic contamination (reduction in water quality; impact pathways 11 to 14) ..................................................................................................... 34 3.4.7 Non-toxic contamination (elevated turbidity; impact pathway 15) .......... 35 3.4.8 Biological disturbance (direct and indirect introduction of non-native species, translocation of native species, and introduction/transfer of parasites/pathogens ; impact pathways 16 to 20) ................................. 36 3.4.9 Habitat interest features ......................................................................... 37 3.5 Step 4(2): Bird sensitivities .............................................................................. 43 3.5.1 Designated sites with bird features ........................................................ 43 AAIR Page 1 of 225 3.5.2 Interest features summary list ................................................................ 43 3.5.3 Sensitivities of birds to plan activities ..................................................... 44 3.5.4 Physical damage to habitat (Indirect change to habitat; impact pathway 3) ............................................................................................. 45 3.5.5 Physical damage to species (direct damage to species from collision risk; impact pathway 6) .......................................................................... 46 3.5.6 Physical damage to species (direct damage to species from marine litter; impact pathway 7) ......................................................................... 47 3.5.7 Non-physical disturbance to species (visual/noise disturbance; impact pathways 9 and 10) ............................................................................... 47 3.5.8 Toxic Contamination (spillage and contamination; impact pathways 11 to 14) ................................................................................................ 50 3.5.9 Non-toxic contamination (increased turbidity; impact pathway 15) ........ 50 3.5.10 Bird interest features ............................................................................ 51 3.6 Step 4(3): Marine mammal sensitivities ........................................................... 52 3.6.1 Designated sites with marine mammal features..................................... 52 3.6.2 Interest features summary list ................................................................ 52 3.6.3 Sensitivities of marine mammals to plan activities ................................. 53 3.6.4 Physical Damage (indirect change to habitat; impact pathway 3) .......... 53 3.6.5 Physical Damage to Species (damage to seal haul-outs; impact pathway 5) ............................................................................................. 54 3.6.6 Physical Damage to Species (direct damage to species from collision risk; impact pathway 6) .......................................................................... 54 3.6.7 Physical Damage (direct damage to species from marine litter; impact pathway 7) ............................................................................................. 56 3.6.8 Non-Physical Disturbance (noise/vibration and visual disturbance causing barrier and exclusion effects; impact pathways 8 to10) ............ 56 3.6.9 Toxic Contamination (reduction in water quality; impact pathways 11 to 14) ..................................................................................................... 61 3.6.10 Non-Toxic Contamination (elevated turbidity; impact pathway 15) ...... 62 3.6.11 Marine mammalDRAFT interest features ......................................................... 62 3.7 Step 4(4): Fish and freshwater pearl mussel sensitivities ................................ 65 3.7.1 Designated sites with fish and freshwater pearl mussel features ........... 65 3.7.2 Interest features summary list ................................................................ 65 3.7.3 Sensitivities of fish and freshwater pearl mussels to plan activities ....... 66 3.7.4 Physical damage (indirect change to habitat; impact pathway 3) .......... 66 3.7.5 Physical damage (direct damage to species from collision risk; impact pathway 6 .............................................................................................. 68 3.7.6 Physical damage (direct damage to species from marine litter; impact pathway 7) ............................................................................................. 69 3.7.7 Non-physical disturbance (barrier and disturbance to species; impact pathways 8 and 10) ............................................................................... 69 3.7.8 Toxic contamination (reduction in water quality; impact pathways 11 to 14) ..................................................................................................... 71 AAIR Page 2 of 225 3.7.9 Non-toxic contamination (elevated turbidity; impact pathway 15) .......... 72 3.7.10 Biological disturbance (introduction of non-native species and the transfer of parasite and pathogens; impact pathways 17 and 20) ......... 73