6. Summary

  1. Data gathered through a desktop review (publicly available sources as well as commercial survey results) and DAS found that the northern North Sea supports a number of different marine mammal species with internationally important populations of certain species occurring within the vicinity of the Array marine mammal study area. Key marine mammals identified within the regional marine mammal study area include harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, minke whale, grey seal, and harbour seal. Humpback whales were identified through citizen science projects as occasional visitors, recorded in the vicinity of the Firth of Forth mostly over winter months.
  2. Where possible, species-specific density estimates were generated using DAS data gathered during 24 months of surveys across the site boundary plus 8 km buffer. Where it was not possible to estimate densities due to low sightings rates, data were sought from published sources including regional studies of key species. A summary of the densities for each species that will be taken forward to the assessment in the EIA are provided in Table 6.1   Open ▸ . It should be noted that due to paucity of data on abundance and density of humpback whale in the North Sea, the assessment of impacts on this species in the EIA will be qualitative. In the EIA process, population-level effects will be considered for a given species-impact pathway and with respect to the species-specific MUs ( Table 6.1   Open ▸ ). Where relevant, the assessment will also be compared at a smaller scale against SCANS IV block NS-D population estimates (Gilles et al., 2023).
  3. Sites designated for the conservation of internationally important Annex II marine mammal populations within the regional marine mammal study area include the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC designated for harbour seal, the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC and Isle of May SAC designated for grey seal, the Moray Firth SAC designated for bottlenose dolphin and the Southern North Sea SAC designated for harbour porpoise. Following a comprehensive assessment of potential connectivity in section 5, only sites presented in Table 6.1   Open ▸ will be considered further in the EIA process.

 

Table 6.1:
Summary of Marine Mammal Receptors to be Considered in the Marine Mammal Array EIA Report Chapter Together with Relevant Densities, Reference Populations and Designated Sites

Table 6.1: Summary of Marine Mammal Receptors to be Considered in the Marine Mammal Array EIA Report Chapter Together with Relevant Densities, Reference Populations and Designated Sites

1 Design-based density estimates from DAS data (refer to volume 3, appendix 10.2, annex A for more detail).

2 Densities based on Lacey et al. (2022) maps.

3 Carter et al. (2022) maps.


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[1] The Firth of Forth Marine Mammal Project

[2] The North East Cetacean Project

[3] Latest changes to legislation include amendments to the Habitat Regulations as a result of the EU Exit: Changes To Legislation