MARINE ENERGY WALES MARINE ENERGY TEST AREA (META) Environmental Impact Assessment Habitat Regulations Assessment: Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment EOR0730 Marine Energy Test Area Rev: 03 December 05 2019 rpsgroup.com Document Status Version Date Authored by Reviewed by Approved by Review date Rev00 10/05/2019 AP RDS 15/05/19 Rev01 23/05/2019 AP RDS 23/05/19 Rev02 03/06/19 AP RDS RDS 04/06/19 Rev03 05/06/19 AP RDS RDS 05/06/19 Rev 04 4/12/19 JK JH JH 4/12/19 Approval for issue Jessica Hooper 2019-12-05 • This report was prepared by RPS Energy Ltd. (‘RPS’) within the terms of its engagement and in direct response to a scope of services. This report is strictly limited to the purpose and the facts and matters stated in it and does not apply directly or indirectly and must not be used for any other application, purpose, use or matter. In preparing the report, RPS may have relied upon information provided to it at the time by other parties. 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Marine Energy Wales EOR0730 | Marine Energy Test Area | Rev: 03 | December 05 2019 rpsgroup.com Page i Table of Contents 4.5 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project in-combination with other plans or projects ............................................................................................................................ 50 5. ASSESSMENT OF ADVERSE EFFECTS ON INTEGRITY: ANNEX II SPECIES – DIADROMOUS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 FISH ................................................................................................................................ 58 1.1 Overview and purpose of this report ................................................................................... 1 5.2 Conservation Objectives ................................................................................................... 58 1.2 META project overview ...................................................................................................... 2 5.3 Baseline information ......................................................................................................... 58 1.2.2 Warrior Way (site 6) .............................................................................................. 2 5.3.2 Pembrokeshire Marine SAC ................................................................................. 58 1.2.3 Dale Roads (site 7) ............................................................................................... 2 5.3.3 Cleddau Rivers SAC ............................................................................................ 59 1.2.4 East Pickard Bay (site 8) ....................................................................................... 2 5.4 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project alone ............................... 59 1.3 The Habitat Regulations ..................................................................................................... 7 5.4.1 Potential impacts – installation/decommissioning ................................................. 59 1.3.1 Legislative context ................................................................................................ 7 5.4.2 Potential impacts – operation and maintenance ................................................... 66 1.3.2 The process.......................................................................................................... 7 5.5 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project in-combination with other plans or 1.3.3 The Appropriate Assessment ................................................................................ 8 projects ............................................................................................................................ 73 2. SUMMARY OF THE SCREENING EXERCISE FOR THE META PROJECT ...................... 10 6. ASSESSMENT OF ADVERSE EFFECTS ON INTEGRITY: ANNEX II SPECIES – MARINE 2.2 Sites considered during HRA screening ............................................................................ 10 MAMMALS ...................................................................................................................... 80 2.2.1 Sites designated for Annex I habitats (subtidal and coastal) ................................. 10 6.2 Conservation Objectives ................................................................................................... 80 2.2.2 Sites designated for Annex II diadromous migratory fish ...................................... 10 6.3 Baseline information ......................................................................................................... 81 2.2.3 Sites designated for Annex II marine mammals ................................................... 11 6.3.2 Harbour porpoise ................................................................................................ 81 2.2.4 Sites designated for marine ornithological features .............................................. 12 6.3.3 Grey seal ............................................................................................................ 82 2.2.5 Sites designated for Annex II otters ..................................................................... 12 6.4 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project alone ............................... 84 2.2.6 Sites designated for Annex II onshore/coastal ornithological features ................... 12 6.4.1 Potential impacts – installation/decommissioning ................................................. 84 2.3 META project design envelope changes since HRA Screening .......................................... 13 6.4.2 Potential impacts – operation and maintenance ................................................... 91 2.3.2 Benthic ecology .................................................................................................. 13 6.5 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project in-combination with other plans or 2.3.3 Otter ................................................................................................................... 13 projects .......................................................................................................................... 107 2.3.4 Marine ornithology .............................................................................................. 13 7. ASSESSMENT OF ADVERSE EFFECTS ON INTEGRITY: ANNEX II SPECIES – OTTERS117 2.3.5 Onshore/coastal ornithological features ............................................................... 14 7.2 Conservation Objectives ................................................................................................. 117 2.4 Consultation .................................................................................................................... 14 7.3 Baseline information ....................................................................................................... 117 2.4.2 Benthic ecology .................................................................................................. 18 7.4 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project alone ............................. 119 2.4.3 Diadromous fish .................................................................................................. 18 7.4.1 Potential impacts – installation/decommissioning ............................................... 119 2.4.4 Marine mammals ................................................................................................ 18 7.4.2 Potential impacts – operation and maintenance ................................................. 120 2.4.5 Marine ornithology .............................................................................................. 19 7.5 Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity – the META project In-combination with other plans or 2.5 Likely significant effects ................................................................................................... 19 projects .......................................................................................................................... 126 3. INFORMATION TO INFORM THE APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT .................................. 28 8. ASSESSMENT OF ADVERSE EFFECTS ON INTEGRITY: ANNEX II SPECIES – MARINE 3.2 Maximum and most likely design scenarios....................................................................... 28 ORNITHOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 130 3.3 Project designed-in mitigation..........................................................................................