The Sizewell C Project 6.3 Volume 2 Main Development Site Chapter 22 Marine Ecology and Fisheries Appendix 22G - Predictions of Entrainment by Sizewell C in Relation to Adjacent Fish and Invertebrate Populations Revision: 1.0 Applicable Regulation: Regulation 5(2)(a) PINS Reference Number: EN010012 May 2020 Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Rev 6 SZC-SZ0200-XX-000-REP-100077 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Predictions of entrainment by Sizewell C in relation to adjacent fish and invertebrate populations TR318 Sizewell Entrainment NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Page 1 of 92 Predictions Rev 6 SZC-SZ0200-XX-000-REP-100077 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Predictions of entrainment by Sizewell C in relation to adjacent fish and invertebrate populations TR318 Sizewell Entrainment NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Page 2 of 92 Predictions Rev 6 SZC-SZ0200-XX-000-REP-100077 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Table of contents Executive summary ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Revisions to entrainment assessments in Version 3 of this report ............................................. 10 1.2 Revisions to entrainment assessments in Version 4 of this report ............................................. 11 1.3 Revisions to entrainment assessments in Version 5 of this report ............................................. 11 1.4 Revisions to entrainment assessments in Version 6 of this report ............................................. 11 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Characterisation of the Sizewell plankton community ................................................................ 13 2.1.1 Adopted zooplankton characterisation protocol for entrainment assessment .................... 14 2.2 Assessment of entrainment effects ........................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Assessment of effects on fish .......................................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Assessment of effects on invertebrate zooplankton ......................................................... 15 2.3 Relevant site features............................................................................................................... 15 3 Entrainment sampling and predictions ............................................................................................. 17 3.1 Methods: equipment used ........................................................................................................ 17 3.2 Methods: on-station entrainment sampling ............................................................................... 18 3.3 Plankton sample processing ..................................................................................................... 19 3.4 Entrainment estimates and predictions ..................................................................................... 19 3.5 Adjustment for unidentifiable eggs, larvae and juveniles ........................................................... 20 3.6 Entrainment survival ................................................................................................................. 21 3.7 Placing entrainment losses of finfish species into a population context ..................................... 21 4 Results ............................................................................................................................................... 23 4.1 Fish species and life-history stages entrained ........................................................................... 23 4.1.1 Entrainment of fish eggs .................................................................................................. 25 4.1.2 Entrainment of fish larvae ................................................................................................ 29 4.1.3 Entrainment of juvenile fish ............................................................................................. 34 4.1.4 Combined entrainment of fish eggs, larvae and juveniles ................................................. 36 4.1.5 Entrainment of fish species of conservation interest ......................................................... 36 4.1.6 Entrainment of fish eggs, larvae and juveniles in relation to fish populations .................... 39 4.2 Entrainment of invertebrate zooplankton................................................................................... 44 5 Discussion and conclusion ............................................................................................................... 51 References ............................................................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A ICES stock unit areas .................................................................................................... 62 Appendix B Monthly estimates (SZB) and predictions (SZC) of entrainment................................. 64 B.1 Estimated entrainment of fish eggs at SZB – including unidentified proportion .......................... 64 B.2 Estimated entrainment of fish eggs at SZB – following monthly re-allocation of unidentified proportion ............................................................................................................................................ 65 B.3 Predicted entrainment of fish eggs at SZC – including unidentified proportion ........................... 66 TR318 Sizewell Entrainment NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED Page 3 of 92 Predictions Rev 6 SZC-SZ0200-XX-000-REP-100077 NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED B.4 Predicted entrainment of fish eggs at SZC – following monthly re-allocation of unidentified proportion ............................................................................................................................................ 67 B.5 Estimated entrainment of fish larvae at SZB - including unidentified proportion ......................... 68 B.6 Estimated entrainment of fish larvae at SZB – following monthly re-allocation of unidentified proportions ........................................................................................................................................... 69 B.7 Predicted entrainment of fish larvae at SZC - including unidentified proportion .......................... 70 B.8 Predicted entrainment of fish larvae at SZC – following monthly re-allocation of unidentified proportions ........................................................................................................................................... 71 B.9 Estimated entrainment of juvenile fish at SZB - including unidentified proportion ....................... 72 B.10 Estimated entrainment of juvenile fish at SZB - following monthly re-allocation of unidentified proportion ............................................................................................................................................ 72 B.11 Predicted entrainment of juvenile fish at SZC - including unidentified proportion ....................... 73 B.12 Predicted entrainment of juvenile fish at SZC - following monthly re-allocation of unidentified proportion ............................................................................................................................................ 73 B.13 Estimated entrainment of zooplankton at SZB .......................................................................... 74 B.14 Predicted entrainment of zooplankton at SZC ........................................................................... 78 Appendix C Predictions of entrainment for specific species .......................................................... 82 C.1 Dab .......................................................................................................................................... 82 C.1.1 Distribution and fisheries ................................................................................................. 82 C.1.2 Spawning and nursery areas ........................................................................................... 82 C.1.3 Migrations and population structure ................................................................................. 82 C.1.4 Stock status and catch and population estimates ............................................................. 82 C.1.5 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 83 C.2 Dover sole................................................................................................................................ 83 C.2.1 Distribution and fisheries ................................................................................................. 83 C.2.2 Spawning areas .............................................................................................................. 83 C.2.3 Larvae and juveniles ....................................................................................................... 83 C.2.4 Migrations and population structure ................................................................................. 83 C.2.5 Stock status and catch and population estimates ............................................................. 83 C.2.6 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................