Geotechnical Investigation, Irish Atlantic Margin Pre-survey Fisheries Assessment Woodside Energy (Ireland) Pty Ltd Assignment Number: A100636-S00 Document Number: A-100636-S00-REPT-002 Xodus Group The Auction House, 63A George St Edinburgh, UK, EH2 2JG T +44 (0)131 510 1010 E [email protected] www.xodusgroup.com Pre-survey Fisheries Assessment A100636-S00 Client: Woodside Energy (Ireland) Pty Ltd Document Type: Report Document Number: A-100636-S00-REPT-002 A02 18/03/2020 Re-issued for Use Sinbad JHM AW A01 17/03/2020 Issued for Use Sinbad JHM AW R01 28/01/2020 Issued for Review Sinbad JHM AW - Checked Approved Client Rev Date Description Issued By By By Approval Geotechnical Investigation, Irish Atlantic Margin – Pre-survey Fisheries Assessment Assignment Number: A100636-S00 Document Number: A-100636-S00-REPT-002 ii GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION, IRISH ATLANTIC MARGIN PRE-SURVEY FISHERY ASSESSMENT Prepared by: Eimear Stafford ________________________ Sinbad Offshore Support Limited Church Road, Killybegs Co. Donegal Dated: 18th March, 2020 1 List of Abbreviations ANIFPO - Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation CEFAS - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science DCCAE - Dept of Communications, Climate action & Environment BIM - Bord Iascaigh Mhara EIS - Environmental Impact Statement EEZ - Exclusive Economic Zone FAO - Food & Agriculture Organisation of United Nations FEL - Frontier Exploration Licence FHC - Fishery Harbour Centre FLO - Fisheries Liaison Officer FMC - Fisheries monitoring centre FPO - Fish Producers Organisation ICES - International Council for Exploration of the Seas IFPO - Irish Fish Producers Organisation IRCG - Irish Coast Guard IS&EFPO - Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation IS&WFPO - Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation IOSEA - Irish Offshore Strategic Environmental Assessment KFO - Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation MI - Marine Institute MSO - Marine Survey Office MSY - Maximum Sustainable Yield NEAFC - North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission PAD - Petroleum Affairs Division RSW - Refrigerated Sea water or Refrigerated Saltwater SAC - Special Area of Conservation SFPA - Sea Fisheries Protection Authority VHF - Very High Frequency (Radio) VMS - Vessel Monitoring System DISCLAIMER This assessment has been prepared by Sinbad Offshore Support Ltd on behalf of Xodus Group Limited for Woodside Energy (Ireland) Pty Ltd, and contains general information about fishery activities in the waters offshore Ireland. While due care has been used in the preparation of information, Sinbad Offshore Support Ltd has no legal responsibility for the content of the information so provided (including, without limitation, as to the quality, accuracy, completeness or fitness for any particular purpose of such information). No guarantee, representation or warranty whatsoever is given, express or implied, relating to any of the content of this report. Sinbad Offshore Support Ltd does not accept any liability for error or omission or for any loss or damage caused, arising directly or indirectly, in connection with reliance on the use of such information. 2 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 7 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1. General Introduction to the Atlantic Margin Geotechnical Investigation .............................. 9 1.2. Survey Location and Baseline Environment .......................................................................... 10 1.3. Spawning and Nursery Areas ................................................................................................ 13 2. Commercial Fisheries .................................................................................................................... 15 2.1. Commercial Fisheries Management and Policy .................................................................... 15 2.2. Commercial Fisheries Overview ............................................................................................ 17 2.2.1. Demersal Fisheries ........................................................................................................ 18 2.2.2. Demersal Fisheries Landings Data ................................................................................ 21 2.2.3. Pelagic Fisheries ............................................................................................................ 26 2.2.4. Pelagic Fisheries Landings Data .................................................................................... 27 2.2.5. Shellfish – Static Gear Fisheries .................................................................................... 30 2.2.6. Deep-water fisheries ..................................................................................................... 30 2.2.7. Fishing Effort Distribution ............................................................................................. 31 2.3. Fishing Methods Used in the Project Locations .................................................................... 36 2.3.1. Bottom (Otter) Trawling / Seining ................................................................................ 36 2.3.2. Gillnetters ...................................................................................................................... 37 2.3.3. Pelagic Trawling ............................................................................................................ 37 2.3.4. Long-lining ..................................................................................................................... 37 2.4. Designated Irish Fish Landings Ports ..................................................................................... 38 2.4.1. Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre (FHC) ............................................................ 39 2.4.2. Union Hall FHC .............................................................................................................. 39 2.4.3. Killybegs FHC ................................................................................................................. 40 2.4.4. Dingle FHC ..................................................................................................................... 40 3 2.4.5. Other Ports .................................................................................................................... 40 2.5. Commercial Traffic / Navigation ........................................................................................... 41 3. Stakeholder Consultation .............................................................................................................. 43 4. Summary of Potential Fisheries Interactions with the Project ..................................................... 43 4.1. Demersal Fishery ................................................................................................................... 43 4.1. Pelagic Fishery ....................................................................................................................... 44 4.2. Static Gear Fishery ................................................................................................................ 44 4.3. Deep-water Fishery ............................................................................................................... 44 5. Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................................................... 45 6. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 45 7. References .................................................................................................................................... 46 4 FIGURES Figure 1-1 Proposed shallow borehole locations ........................................................................... 10 Figure 1-2 Proposed shallow borehole locations and the three study areas relative to ICES areas . ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 2-1 The boundaries of the ICES subdivisions within Ireland’s EEZ (SFPA). ......................... 16 Figure 2-2 The spatial distribution of landings for the main benthic, gadoid and shellfish species in the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (ICES, 2018). ............................................................................................. 20 Figure 2-3 Demersal landings to Irish ports in 2018 (SFPA, 2019). ................................................ 21 Figure 2-4 Percentage of demersal landings in the Porcupine Bank region in 2016 (STECF, 2017). ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Figure 2-5 Share of main demersal landings in Irish Shelf region for 2016 (STECF, 2017). ........... 23 Figure 2-6 Spatial extent of primary Nephrops fishing grounds in Irish waters. (BIM, 2019). ...... 25 Figure 2-7 The spatial distribution of landings for the main pelagic species in the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (ICES, 2018) .......................................................................................................................... 26 Figure 2-8 Pelagic fish landings to Irish ports in 2018 (SFPA, 2019). ...........................................