Appropriate Assessment Screening for Aquaculture activities in Trawenagh Bay, Co. Donegal Brief description of the project or plan Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are currently produced at 26 licenced aquaculture sites in Trawenagh Bay. Applications have been submitted for Aquaculture Licences for the production of Pacific oysters at 2 sites and for the renewal of an existing licence at 1 site within Trawenagh Bay The locations of the aquaculture sites are shown in Figure 1 Brief description of the Natura 2000 Trawenagh Bay is not a designated Natura 2000 site. The sites following Natura 2000 sites are adjacent to (within 15Km) of the aquaculture sites in Trawenagh Bay and are shown in Figure 2. 1. Derryveagh And Glendowan Mountains SPA (Site Code: 004039) Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains SPA is an extensive upland site in north-west Co. Donegal, comprising Glenveagh National Park, a substantial part of the Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains and a number of the surrounding lakes. The substrate over much of site is peat, with blanket bog and heath comprising the principal habitats. The Conservation Objectives of this site are1 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA: Red Throated Diver Merlin Peregrine Golden Plover Dunlin 2. Lough Nillan Bog SPA (Site Code: 004110) Lough Nillan Bog SPA covers a large area of the hills immediately south of Glenties in Co. Donegal. The site extends from Owenea Lough in the west to the summit of Silver Hill in the east. The site comprises an extensive complex of blanket bog, wet heath, lakes, rivers and streams, with the topography varying from level plains to steep hills. The bog has a range of micro-topographical features (e.g. hummocks, inter-connecting pools and flushes) and vegetation communities. 1 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains SPA [004039]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 1 The Conservation Objectives of this site are2 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA Merlin Golden Plover Greenland White-fronted Goose Dunlin 3. Sheskinmore Lough SPA (Site Code: 004090) Sheskinmore Lough is a shallow lake located approximately 5 km north-west of Ardara in Co. Donegal. The site comprises an intricate complex of coastal and freshwater habitats. The solid geology is largely obscured by sand, but the fringe of a granitic intrusion forms the higher ground to the north-east of the lake. Calcareous sands blow across the site and there is seepage of basic water from the dunes to the lake. The Conservation Objectives of this site are3 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA Greenland White-fronted Goose 4. Roaninish SPA (Site Code: 004121) The site comprises a tight group of small, flat, low-lying, uninhabited islets surrounded by extensive intertidal rocks, situated in Gweebarra Bay, approximately 3 km north-west of Dunmore Head in Co. Donegal. Its highest point is 9 m above sea level. Much of the site is sparsely vegetated, with the exception of the main island, Roaninish, which supports lush maritime grassland. Two small ponds occur on Roaninish and support some aquatic species. The surrounding seas to a distance of 200 m are included within the site. The Conservation Objectives of this site are4 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA Barnacle Goose 2 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for Lough Nillan Bog SPA [004110]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 3 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for Sheskinmore Lough SPA [004090]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 4 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for Roaninish SPA [004121]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 2 Herring Gull 5. West Donegal Coast SPA (Site Code: 004150) The West Donegal Coast SPA comprises separate sections of the Co. Donegal coastline and extends from Muckros Head in the south, northwards to Slieve League, Malin Beg, Rocky Point, Glen Head, Slieve Tooey, Maghera, Loughros Point, Dunmore Head, Aran Island, Magheradrumman, Carrickfin, Carnboy, Bunbeg, Magheragallan, Lunniagh, as far as Carrick, to the south of Bloody Foreland. The site includes the high coast areas and sea cliffs of the mainland and Aran Island, the land adjacent to the cliff, areas of sand dunes/machair at Maghera, Mullaghderg, Braade/Carrickfin/Carnboy, Magheragallan and Lunniagh/Carrick, and also several areas further inland of the coast at Croaghmuckros and Slieve League, north of Glencolumbkille and south of Dunmore Head. The high water mark forms the seaward boundary, except at Tormore Island where the adjacent sea area to a distance of 500 m from the cliff base is included. The Conservation Objectives of this site are5 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA Fulmar Cormorant Shag Peregrine Herring Gull Kittiwake Razorbill Chough 6. Inishkeel SPA (Site Code: 004116) Inishkeel is a small island situated approximately 500 m offshore of Portnoo in the inner part of Gweebarra Bay in west Co. Donegal. At low tide it is accessible from the mainland by a sand spit. It is a rugged, low-lying island which is largely vegetated by a maritime grassland sward. The site includes the surrounding seas, to a distance of 200 m from the shore. The Conservation Objectives of this site are6 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition 5 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for West Donegal Coast SPA [004150]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 6 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for Inishkeel SPA [004116]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 3 of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA Barnacle Goose 7. Illancrone and Inishkeeragh (SPA Site Code: 004132) Illancrone and Inishkeeragh are two marine islands situated 8 to 9 km west of the town of Dunglow and south of Aranmore Island, Co. Donegal. Illancrone comprises areas of rock, shingle and short grassland. Inishkeeragh is a medium- sized, low-lying island surrounded by extensive intertidal rocks and, although now uninhabited, previous occupation has resulted in the island being divided into a system of enclosed fields. These fields have now reverted to unimproved dry grassland grazed by sheep. The Conservation Objectives of this site are7 To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA Barnacle Goose Common Tern Arctic Tern Little Tern 8. Rutland Island & Sound SAC (Site Code: 002283) Rutland Island and Sound SAC lies between Aran Island and Burtonport in north-west Donegal, 5 km north-west of Dunglow. Besides Rutland itself a number of other small rocky islets are also included in the site. The bedrock of Rutland Island is granite, but the dune systems on the island are highly calcareous. The Conservation Objectives of this site are8 To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Coastal lagoons in Rutland Island and Sound SAC, To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Large shallow inlets and bays in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Reefs in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Annual vegetation of drift lines in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of 7 NPWS (2020) Conservation objectives for Illancrone and Inishkeeragh SPA [004132]. Generic Version 7.0. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 8 NPWS (2013) Conservation Objectives: Rutland Island and Sound SAC 002283. Version 1. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 4 Embryonic shifting dunes in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ('white dunes') in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation ('grey dunes') in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Humid dune slacks in Rutland Island and Sound SAC To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Harbour Seal in Rutland Island and Sound SAC 9. Slieve Tooey / Tormore Island / Loughros Beg Bay SAC (Site Code: 000190) This large site covers the northern half of the Slieve League peninsula in Co. Donegal, stretching from Ardara in the east towards Glencolmbkille and Glen Bay in the west. Along its northern side, the site is fringed by a range of coastal habitats, including sea cliffs, stacks, islets, caves, sand dunes, the Loughros Beg Bay estuary and salt marshes. Inland, the area is generally mountainous, rising to 511 m O.D. south of Lough Croaghballaghdown. The Conservation Objectives of this site are9 To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlanticand Baltic coasts in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC To maintain the favourable