12.8. Key Parameters for Assessment

The maximum design scenarios identified in Table 12.6 Open ▸ are those expected to have the potential to result in the greatest effect on an identified receptor or receptor group. These scenarios have been selected from the details provided in volume 1, chapter 3 of the Array EIA Report. Effects of greater adverse significance are not predicted to arise should any other development scenario, based on details within the Project Description (volume 1, chapter 3) (e.g. different infrastructure layout), to that assessed here, be taken forward in the final design scheme.

The commercial fisheries pre-Scoping workshop was used to facilitate stakeholder engagement on topics to be scoped out of the assessment.
On the basis of the baseline environment and the Project Description outlined in volume 1, chapter 3 of the Array EIA Report, and following feedback from the pre-Scoping workshop and Ossian Array EIA Scoping Opinion (MD-LOT, 2023), it is proposed that no impacts are to be scoped out of the assessment for commercial fisheries.

12.9. Methodology for Assessment of Effects

The commercial fisheries assessment of effects has followed the methodology set out in volume 1, chapter 6 of the Array EIA Report. Specific to the commercial fisheries EIA, the following guidance documents have also been considered:

Good Practice Guidance for Assessing Fisheries Displacement (Xodus, 2022);
Best Practice Guidance for Fishing Industry Financial and Economic Impact Assessments (United Kingdom Fisheries Economic Network (UKFEN) and Seafish, 2012);
FLOWW Recommendations for Fisheries Liaison: Best Practice guidance for offshore renewable developers (FLOWW, 2014);
FLOWW Best Practice Guidance for Offshore Renewables Developments: Recommendations for Fisheries Disruption Settlements and Community Funds (FLOWW, 2015);
Damage to Gear Compensation Claim Forms (Marine Scotland, 2021);
Guidance on completing Damage to Gear Compensation Claim Forms (Marine Scotland, 2021);
Options and opportunities for marine fisheries mitigation associated with wind farms (Blyth-Skyrme, 2010a);
Developing guidance on fisheries Cumulative Impact Assessment for wind farm developers (Blyth-Skyrme, 2010b);
Cumulative impact assessment guidelines, guiding principles for cumulative impacts assessments in offshore wind farms (RenewableUK, 2013);
Fishing and Submarine Cables - Working Together (International Cable Protection Committee, 2009); and
Guidance on preparing a “FMMS” (draft) (Marine Scotland, 2020).

The assessment of displacement has been undertaken with due regard to Xodus guidelines (Xodus, 2022) in defining the magnitude of impact to each receptor group and sensitivity of each commercial fishing fleet. The displacement considers both primary and secondary displacement, defined as follows (Xodus, 2022):

Primary displacement refers to the first instance of displacement where fishing effort is relocated to another area as a result of a change in the spatial environment. In the context of this guidance, this corresponds to displacement that is a direct result of other licensed marine activities and associated infrastructure.
Secondary displacement is an indirect effect of the other licensed marine activity and associated infrastructure. This occurs when the fishing effort that is relocated through primary displacement also displaces fishing effort.

The guidance provides details on baseline data sources, highlighting that "no single source of data can be used to comprehensively describe commercial fishing activity, due to the inherent limitations of each data source”. Data sources are detailed in Table 12.4 Open ▸ and Table 12.5 Open ▸ , together with associated limitations and uncertainties.

Clear understanding of the commercial fishing 'receptors' for which impacts will be assessed, the fishing methods which are operated in the study area, including the areas where fishing activity may be relocated;
Identification of the likely maximum distance of displacement by the receptors, and the potential spatial extent of displacement effects for the fishing vessels which are already operational in the area which vessels are displaced to;
Identification of potential impacts on displaced commercial fisheries from the area that vessels are initially displaced from;
Identification of potential impacts on any fishing vessel operators / owners which are already active in the area in which vessels are displaced to and the potential for competition for space;
Establishing the sensitivity of each commercial fisheries receptor to displacement, with reference to the specifications;
If possible, a quantitative assessment of magnitude (e.g. taking account of spatial extent, duration, fishing effort, number of vessels); and
Consideration of primary and secondary displacement where applicable.

When determining the significance of effects, a two stage process is used which involves defining the magnitude of the potential impacts and the sensitivity of the receptors. This section describes the criteria applied in this chapter to assign values to the magnitude of potential impacts and the sensitivity of the receptors. The terms used to define magnitude and sensitivity are based on those which are described in further detail in volume 1, chapter 6 of the Array EIA Report.
The criteria for defining magnitude in this chapter are outlined in Table 12.7 Open ▸ and are based upon the technical expert’s experience and judgement. Each assessment considered the spatial extent, duration, frequency and reversibility of impact when determining magnitude which are outlined within the magnitude section of each impact assessment (e.g. a duration of hours or days would be considered for most receptors to be of short term duration, which is likely to result in a low magnitude of impact).

The criteria for defining sensitivity in this chapter are outlined in Table 12.8 Open ▸ and is based upon the technical expert’s experience and judgement.

The magnitude of the impact and the sensitivity of the receptor are combined when determining the significance of the effect upon commercial fisheries. The particular method employed for this assessment is presented in Table 12.9 Open ▸ .
Where a range is suggested for the significance of effect, for example, minor to moderate, it is possible that this may span the significance threshold. The technical specialist’s professional judgement has been applied to determine which outcome defines the most likely effect, which took in to account the sensitivity of the receptor and the magnitude of impact. Where professional judgement was applied to quantify final significance from a range, the assessment has set out the factors that result in the final assessment of significance. These factors may include the likelihood that an effect will occur, data certainty and relevant information about the wider environmental context.
For the purposes of this assessment:

a level of residual effect of moderate or more will be considered a ‘significant’ effect in terms of the EIA Regulations; and
a level of residual effect of minor or less will be considered ‘not significant’ in terms of the EIA Regulations.

Effects of moderate significance or above are therefore considered important in the decision-making process, whilst effects of minor significance or less warrant little, if any, weight in the decision-making process.