9.13. Proposed Monitoring

497.           No project specific monitoring measures are proposed given that no significant impacts were predicted from the Array alone or cumulatively with other plans and projects. However, engagement with MD-SEDD, NatureScot, and other relevant key stakeholders will be undertaken to identify and deliver proportionate measures for contributing to strategic monitoring to further address evidence gaps on fish and shellfish receptors and potential interactions with offshore wind farm projects. This may involve engaging and contributing to ongoing strategic initiatives from Scottish Marine Energy Research (ScotMER) (Scottish Government, 2024b) and include monitoring of impacts wherein data gaps exist.

9.14. Transboundary Effects

498.           A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and has identified that there were no likely significant transboundary effects with regard to fish and shellfish ecology from the Array upon the interests of European Economic Area (EEA) states. This was due to the relatively limited scale of effect and/or temporary nature of the impacts on fish and shellfish which would not result in effects occurring in other countries.

9.15. Inter-Related Effects (and Ecosystem Assessment)

499.           A description of the likely inter-related effects arising from the Array on fish and shellfish ecology is provided in volume 2, chapter 20 of the Array EIA Report.

500.           For fish and shellfish ecology, the following potential impacts have been considered within the inter-related assessment:

  • temporary habitat loss and disturbance;
  • long term habitat loss and disturbance;
  • increased SSCs and associated deposition;
  • effects to fish and shellfish receptors due to EMF from subsea electrical cabling;
  • colonisation of hard structures;
  • underwater noise from piling and UXO clearance impacting fish and shellfish receptors; and
  • underwater noise from the operation of floating wind turbines and anchor mooring lines impacting fish and shellfish receptors.

501.           Table 9.34   Open ▸ lists the inter-related effects (project lifetime effects) that are predicted to arise during the construction, operation and maintenance phase, and decommissioning of the Array and also the inter-related effects (receptor-led effects) that are predicted to arise for fish and shellfish ecology receptors.

502.           As noted above, effects on fish and shellfish ecology receptors also have the potential to have secondary effects on other receptors and these effects are fully considered in the topic-specific chapters. These receptors and effects are:

  • marine mammals:

–      changes in the fish and shellfish community resulting from impacts during construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Array may lead to loss of prey resources for marine mammals resulting in effects of negligible significance (see volume 2, chapter 10);

  • offshore ornithology:

–      the assessment for offshore and intertidal ornithology considers the overall effects on foraging seabirds from potential changes in prey communities that could be caused by disturbance, habitat loss, and increased SSC. The assessment of effects demonstrated that due to the high mobility of foraging seabirds and their ability to exploit different prey species, and the small scale of potential changes in context of wider available habitat, the changes to fish and shellfish prey communities are unlikely to have a significant effect on foraging seabirds (see volume 2, chapter 11); and

  • commercial fisheries:

–      changes in fish and shellfish communities from impacts during construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning may affect commercial fisheries receptors by effects on target species. However, as this chapter has predicted only negligible or minor effects on fish and shellfish ecology receptors, negligible or minor effects are therefore predicted for commercial fisheries (see volume 2, chapter 12), which are not significant in EIA terms.

 

Table 9.34:
Summary of Likely Significant Inter-Related Effects for Fish and Shellfish Ecology from Individual Effects Occurring Across the Site Preparation and Construction, Operation and Maintenance and Decommissioning Phases of the Array (Array Lifetime Effects) and from Multiple Effects Interacting Across all Phases (Receptor-led Effects)

Table 9.34: Summary of Likely Significant Inter-Related Effects for Fish and Shellfish Ecology from Individual Effects Occurring Across the Site Preparation and Construction, Operation and Maintenance and Decommissioning Phases of the Array (Array Lifetime Effects) and from Multiple Effects Interacting Across all Phases (Receptor-led Effects)

 

9.16. Summary of Impacts, Mitigation, Likely Significant Effects and Monitoring

503.           Information on fish and shellfish ecology within the fish and shellfish ecology study area was collected through detailed desktop review of existing studies and datasets, in addition to site-specific surveys. This information is summarised in Table 9.8   Open ▸ and Table 9.9   Open ▸ .

504.           Table 9.35   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts and the conclusion of significant effects in EIA terms in respect to fish and shellfish ecology. The impacts assessed include:

  • temporary habitat loss and disturbance;
  • long term habitat loss and disturbance;
  • colonisation and hard substrates;
  • underwater noise from piling and UXO clearance impacting fish and shellfish receptors;
  • underwater noise from the operation of floating wind turbines and anchor mooring lines impacting fish and shellfish receptors;
  • increased SSCs and associated deposition; and
  • effects to fish and shellfish receptors due to EMF from subsea electrical cabling.

505.           Overall, it is concluded that there will be no LSE1 in EIA terms arising from the Array during the construction, operation and maintenance or decommissioning phases.

506.           Table 9.36   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts, designed in measures and the conclusion of LSE1 on fish and shellfish ecology in EIA terms. The cumulative effects assessed include:

  • temporary habitat loss and disturbance;
  • long term habitat loss and disturbance;
  • colonisation and hard substrates
  • underwater noise from piling and UXO clearance impacting fish and shellfish receptors; and
  • effects to fish and shellfish receptors due to EMF from subsea electrical cabling.

507.           Overall, it is concluded that there will be no likely significant cumulative effects in EIA terms from the Array alongside other projects/plans.

508.           No likely significant transboundary effects have been identified.

 

Table 9.35:
Summary of Likely Significant Environmental Effects, Secondary Mitigation and Monitoring

Table 9.35: Summary of Likely Significant Environmental Effects, Secondary Mitigation and Monitoring

 

Table 9.36:
Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Environment Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring

Table 9.36: Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Environment Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring