7.
Offshore Human and Socio-Economic Environment
7. Offshore Human and Socio-Economic Environment
7.1. Commercial Fisheries
7.1.1. Introduction
- This section of this Scoping Report identifies the elements of commercial fishing relevant to the Array and considers the scope of assessment on commercial fisheries from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Array.
7.1.2. Study Area
- The Array is situated within the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Division 4b Central North Sea. Each ICES Division is divided up into statistical rectangles, allowing fisheries data to be presented on a finer scale.
- The commercial fisheries study area has been defined with respect to the ICES statistical rectangles within which the site boundary is located. As shown in Figure 7.1 Open ▸ , the site boundary is mainly situated within ICES rectangle 42E9 with small corners overlapping with 42F0 and 41E9. The site boundary has a 25% overlap with 42E9.
- The commercial fisheries study area will be used to identify fisheries activity in the vicinity of the Array. Where relevant, however, data and information from wider areas (i.e. North Sea ICES Divisions 4a, 4b and 4c) will be analysed to provide wider context to the fisheries included in the assessment. Furthermore, the epibenthic beam trawl survey, undertaken in July 2022 to characterise the benthic subtidal ecology baseline, will also be utilised to enhance the commercial fisheries assessment.
- As described in section 1, this Scoping Report considers the offshore infrastructure associated with the Array (i.e. wind turbines, Offshore Substation Platforms (OSPs) and inter-array and interconnector cabling). The Proposed offshore export cable corridor(s) and Proposed onshore export cable corridor(s) (including onshore substation at the Proposed landfall location(s)) will be subject to separate consents.
7.1.3. Baseline Environment
- This section provides a concise summary of the baseline environment of the commercial fisheries study area. Reference should be made to Appendix 10 where a more detailed description is provided.
- Stakeholder feedback from the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA) received at the Commercial Fisheries Scoping Workshop on 15 November 2022 (held with representatives from SWFPA and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF)) noted that 42E9 was historically a high intensity fishery for small haddock, therefore, commercial fisheries data are presented between 2011 to 2021, to provide a comprehensive baseline, and to review historical data from the 42E9 area.
- The commercial fisheries baseline has been mainly characterised by publicly available MMO data for ICES rectangle 42E9 (MMO, 2017; MMO, 2022). These MMO data are presented in the following paragraphs 492 to 502 and provide a sufficient representation of the UK fishery within ICES rectangle 42E9 as they include information on various parameters, such as gear type and month of catch. The following data sources have or will be considered to take account of international fisheries operating within the study area:
- Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data from European Union (EU) vessels (> 12 m in length) in terms of average total fishing effort and average Swept Area Ratio (SAR) for four gear types: demersal otter trawls, dredges, beam trawls and demersal seines between 2016 and 2020 (see paragraph 502).
- Data from non-EU countries that operate within the North Sea and are not included in the VMS data, such as Norway, have been requested and will be included in the Array Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report.
- Several species of commercial importance were recorded during the site-specific benthic surveys that were conducted across the site boundary in July 2022 (Appendix 6 and Appendix 7). These include queen scallop Aequipecten opercularis, plaice Pleuronectes platessa, lemon sole Microstomus kitt, long rough dab Hippoglossoides platessoides, common dab Limanda limanda, Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii and grey gurnard Eutrigla gurnardus.
- The sale of fish and the fisheries supply chain will be included in the impact assessments undertaken during the EIA process and will be considered if any potential impacts to commercial fisheries are concluded to be significant. The Commercial Fisheries chapter of the Array EIA Report will only cover the impacts to commercial fisheries up to the point of first sale by commercial fishers. Supply chain effects of suppliers and processors will be discussed in greater detail within the Socio-Economic chapter within the Array EIA Report.
Fisheries data between 2011 and 2015
- The average annual landed weight and average annual first sales value across the period of 2011 to 2015 was 777.8 tonnes and £809,399, respectively, with variation in the total landed weight and value across years (Appendix 10, Apx. Table 10.2). Between 2011 and 2013, and in 2015, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, contributed the highest landings weight and first sales value. In 2014, herring Clupea harengus dominated landed weight (262.8 tonnes at a value of £63,576), however, haddock continued to dominate first sales value, despite lower landed weight in comparison to herring (203.3 tonnes at a value of £273,483). Other key species caught across the period of 2011 to 2015 include scallops (Pectinidae), cod Gadus morhua, Nephrops Nephrops norvegicus, whiting Merlangius merlangus, squid (Loligo spp.), plaice, hake Merluccius merluccius, and monks/anglers. Appendix 10, Apx Figure 10.1 Open ▸ shows the first sales value (£,000) for these species across the period of 2011 to 2015.
- For demersal species, haddock had highest annual average landings of 618.7 tonnes (£669,343), followed by whiting (26.4 tonnes = £27,642), and plaice (7.4 tonnes = £5,252). Scallops contributed the highest annual average landings of shellfish (13.0 tonnes = £24,573), followed by Nephrops (6.0 tonnes = £36,378), and squid (1.6 tonnes = £7,228).
- For pelagic species, herring had the highest annual average landings of 150.3 tonnes (£23,288), followed by mackerel Scomber scombrus (5.0 tonnes = £3,916), however, herring was only landed within the years 2012 to 2014, whereas mackerel was landed each year across 2011 to 2015.
- The majority of demersal and pelagic fish landed by UK vessels were caught using demersal trawls and seines, which encompasses otter, Nephrops, shrimp and pair trawls, and all demersal seines (MMO, 2017). Shellfish species were caught using dredges, as well as demersal trawls/seines, and pots and traps.
Fisheries data between 2016 and 2021
- The total landed weight and first sales value recorded each year varied between 2016 and 2021, with an average of 131.4 tonnes and value of £122,836 (Appendix 10, Apx. Table 10.3). In 2016, high landings of herring (399.5 tonnes at a value of £195,592) were recorded, however, this species has not been recorded at all in subsequent years. Landings of pelagic species were therefore significantly higher than for demersal or shellfish species in 2016 (420.8 tonnes), however, this has dropped to 1.1 tonnes or below in subsequent years (Appendix 10, Table 10.3).
- Haddock contributed the highest proportion of landed weight and value for each year except 2016, where herring was dominant. Other key species throughout 2016 to 2021 include scallops, mackerel, Nephrops, squid, and mixed demersal species. A seasonal trend was observed, with the highest landings recorded in between May to September. Peaks were typically representative of haddock landings, with the exception of peak landings of herring observed in August (255.1 tonnes = £126,997) and September 2016 (144.4 tonnes = £68,596). The first sales value (£,000) for these species is illustrated in Appendix 10, Apx Figure 10.2 Open ▸ and seasonal trends are illustrated in Appendix 10, Apx Figure 10.3 Open ▸ .
- Five different gear types were recorded: otter trawls, demersal seine, demersal trawls, dredges, and pots and traps. Otter trawls contributed the highest landings on average over the period of 2016 to 2021, with an annual average landing weight of 129.1 tonnes and first sales value of £102,344. However, this value is skewed by the high landings of herring that were recorded in 2016.
- The total landed weight and first sales value in ICES rectangle 42E9 and in all ICES rectangles within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are presented in Table 7.1 Open ▸ . The landings and first sales value within 42E9 have steadily decreased between 2011 and 2021. As illustrated, the landings and first sales value from 42E9 represent a relatively low proportion of the overall UK wide landings values.
Fishing vessel presence and fishing intensity
- As illustrated in paragraph 492 et seq., commercial fishing activity is relatively low within ICES rectangle 42E9, and a decrease in landings has been observed from 2011 to 2021 ( Table 7.1 Open ▸ ). As a result, the density of commercial fishing vessel traffic through the commercial fisheries study area is low compared to other areas within the North Sea, as illustrated in Appendix 10, Apx Figure 10.6.
- Similarly, the total fishing effort within ICES Rectangle 42E9 is also low in comparison with other areas of the North Sea. As illustrated in Figure 7.2 Open ▸ , fishing effort is minimal within the area of the commercial fisheries study area that overlaps with the Array, with higher effort reported for ICES Rectangle 42F0 and elsewhere in the North Sea. Similarly, the average total fishing effort of EU vessels (including the UK) over 12 m between 2016 and 2020 is low within the site boundary compared to other regions of the North Sea (Appendix 10, Apx Figure 10.5 Open ▸ ).
- The SMP for Offshore Wind Energy (Scottish Government, 2020b) notes that “there is potential for areas within E1 to be important fish spawning grounds, including for herring, cod, whiting, plaice and sandeel” and there are potential impacts on commercial fishing in this area (Scottish Government, 2020b). Appendix 10, Apx Figure 10.7 Open ▸ shows the average SAR for EU vessels (including the UK) over 12 m is low within the site boundary, in comparison to other areas of the North Sea, however, specific data for international fisheries is not included in this Scoping Report. It is acknowledged that fishers from other European jurisdictions such as Norway, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands may also access this ICES Rectangle and, therefore, there may be potential for impacts upon international fisheries. Data has been requested and consultation with other jurisdictions will be undertaken and presented in the Array EIA Report. This includes fisheries data requested from Norwegian vessels and obtained from the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF) database.
7.1.4. Potential Array Impacts
- A list of all potential impacts on commercial fisheries which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Array in the absence of designed in measures is included in Table 7.2 Open ▸ .
7.1.5. Designed in Measures
- The following designed in measures, and how these can reduce potential for impact, have been considered in the identification of potential impacts that have been scoped into the Array assessment ( Table 7.4 Open ▸ ):
- ongoing consultation with the fishing industry and appointment of a Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO);
- development of a Fisheries Management and Mitigation Strategy (FMMS);
- adherence to good practice guidance with regards to fisheries liaison (e.g. Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables Group (FLOWW), 2014, 2015);
- timely and efficient distribution of NtM, Kingfisher notifications and other navigational warnings of the position and nature of works associated with the Array;
- implementation of a VMP and Navigational Safety Plan (NSP);
- notification to the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) of the proposed works to facilitate the promulgation of maritime safety information and updating of nautical charts and publications; and
- liaison with Fisheries Industry Representatives (FIRs), as appropriate.
7.1.6. Relevant Consultations
- A summary of the details of the consultations with relevant stakeholders and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) undertaken to date is presented in Table 7.3 Open ▸ .
7.1.7. Potential Impacts After the Implementation of Designed in Measures
- The impacts that have been scoped into the Array assessment are outlined in Table 7.4 Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that may be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
- At this stage, there are no impacts that have been proposed to be scoped out of the Array assessment.