Glossary

Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD)

A tool deployed to emit high-frequency sounds to deter marine mammals from areas where their presence may pose a risk, such as construction sites or fishing operations.

Adult-type

A seabird that appears to have adult plumage, but has not yet reached sexual maturity. For example, kittiwake show an adult-type plumage in their second or third year, but do not typically breed until four or five years of age (Coulson, 2019).

Ampullary Electroreceptors

Organs which can detect weak electric fields produced by other animals.

Annex I Habitat

A natural habitat type of community interest, defined in Annex I of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). The designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is required in the United Kingdom (UK) to ensure the conservation of these habitats. The protection afforded to sites designated prior to European Union (EU) Exit persists in UK law.

Annex II Species

Animal or plant species of community interest, defined in Annex II of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). The designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is required in the UK to ensure the conservation of these species. The protection afforded to sites designated prior to EU Exit persists in UK law.

Apparently Occupied Nests

A census method in the Seabird Monitoring Programme, where the colony count is expressed with nests as the unit.

Applicant

Ossian Offshore Wind Farm Ltd

Application

The consents and licences being sought by the Applicant for the Offshore Development of the Ossian Project. As a minimum these include: A Section 36 Consent application under the Electricity Act 1989 for the wind farm generating station; and A Marine Licence application under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 for the offshore works (12 to 200 nm) in the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 for the works within 12 nm of the coast.

Apportioning

A method that assigns unknown entities to known entities based on weighing factors. In this report, it refers to birds of unknown origin within the study area that are assigned to colonies based on distance to colony and colony size.

Appropriate Assessment

An assessment to determine the implications of a plan or project on a European site in view of that site’s conservation objectives. An Appropriate Assessment forms part of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) and is required when a plan or project (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site.

Appropriate AssessmentAppropriate Assessment

An assessment to determine the implications of a plan or project on a European site in view of that site’s conservation objectives. An Appropriate Assessment forms part of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) and is required when a plan or project (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site.An assessment to determine the implications of a plan or project on a European site in view of that site’s conservation objectives. An Appropriate Assessment forms part of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) and is required when a plan or project (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site.

Array

Offshore components of Ossian, including infrastructure such as wind turbines and associated foundations, moorings and anchors, offshore substation platforms, and inter-array/interconnector cables.

Array

Offshore components of Ossian, including infrastructure such as wind turbines and associated foundations, moorings and anchors, Offshore Substation Platforms (OSPs), and inter-array/interconnector cables.

B Field

Magnetic field.

Baleen Whales

A group of marine mammals characterised by the presence of baleen plates in their mouths, which they use to filter small organisms such as krill and plankton from the water for feeding.

Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm

The offshore wind farm which is to be located within the Agreement for Lease area for Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm (formerly Seagreen 2 Offshore Wind Farm) and the Agreement for Lease area for Marr Bank (formerly Seagreen 3 Offshore Wind Farm) - together now referred to as Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm.

Biologically Defined Minimum Population Scales

Seasonal subdivisions of bird population size. The rationale behind these subdivisions is that the likely origin of a bird in a particular location depends on the time of year.

Breeding Adults

Adults at breeding age proportion of a population.

Bycatch

Fish and seabirds that are caught which are retained and sold but are not the target species for the fishery.

Capital Breeder

A species that primarily relies on stored energy reserves, such as fat, to support reproduction and survival during periods of food scarcity or limited foraging opportunities.

Click

A short, high frequency sound pulse emitted by certain marine mammals, particularly toothed whales such as dolphins and sperm whales, used for echo location, communication, and navigation underwater.

Compensation/Compensatory Measures

If an Adverse Effect on the Integrity (AEoI) on a designated site is determined during the Appropriate Assessment, compensatory measures for the impacted site (and relevant features) will be required. The term compensatory measures is not defined in the Habitats Regulations. Compensatory measures are however, considered to comprise those measures which are independent of the project, including any associated mitigation measures, and are intended to offset the adverse effects of the plan or project so that the overall ecological coherence of the national site network is maintained.

Competent Authority

The term derives from the Habitats Regulations and relates to the exercise of the functions and duties under those Regulations. Competent authorities are defined in the Habitat Regulations as including "any Minister, government department, public or statutory undertaker, public body of any description or person holding a public office". In the context of a plan or project, the competent authority is the authority with the power or duty to determine whether or not the proposal can proceed (SNH, 2014).

Connectivity

The degree to which ecological habitats or populations are interconnected and functionally linked, influencing the exchange of genetic material, movement of organisms, and overall resilience of ecosystems.

Counterfactual of Growth Rate

The ratio of impacted to unimpacted annual growth rate.

Counterfactual of Population Size

The ratio of impacted to unimpacted population size.

Cumulative Effects

As applied in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report), the combined effect of the Ossian Project with the effects from a number of different projects, on the same single receptor/resource.

Cumulative Impact

As applied in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA Report), impacts that result from changes caused by other past, present or reasonably foreseeable actions together with the Ossian Project.

Deflagration

A rapid chemical reaction characterised by subsonic propagation of flame front through a combustible substance, such as an explosive material or flammable gas, typically resulting in the release of heat and pressure.

Demographic Parameter

A factor that determines the population size.

Design Envelope

A description of the range of possible elements that make up the Ossian Project design options under consideration, as set out in detail in the project description. This envelope is used to define Ossian Project for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) purposes when the exact engineering parameters are not yet known.

Designed In Measures

Measures included in the design of a proposed development that help to reduce the impact of the development.

Development Area

The Development Area (Offshore) and Development Area (Onshore) combined.

Diadromous Fish

A species which migrates between freshwater and seawater as part of its life cycle.

E Field

An electrical field which physically surrounds electrically charged particles.

Echolocation

The biological process by which certain animals emit high-frequency sound waves and interpret the returning echoes to perceive their surroundings, typically used for navigation, locating prey, and communicating in aquatic environments.

EIA Regulations

The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007 and the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.

Ensonification

To fill an area with sound.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Assessment of the likely significant effects of a plan, project or activity on the environment, in accordance with the EIA Regulations.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations

The term used to refer to The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007.

EU Exit

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

EU Exit Regulations

The EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended as by the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, gives Ministers in the UK Government and in the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, powers to make subordinate legislation amending laws that otherwise would not work appropriately as a result of the UK leaving EU, or to implement the Withdrawal Agreement.

EU Exit

The withdrawal of the UK from the EU. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU).

European Site

A Special Area of Conservation (SAC), or candidate SAC, (cSAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a site listed as a site of community importance (SCI), or, as per Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), a possible SAC (pSAC) or potential SPA (pSPA). All Ramsar sites are also Natura 2000 sites and are protected under the relevant statutory regimes’ (Scottish Government, 2014) as confirmed by Scottish Government (2020). A SAC, or candidate SAC, (cSAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a site listed as a Site of Community Importance (SCI), or, as per Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), a possible SAC (pSAC) or potential SPA (pSPA).

European Site

A Special Area of Conservation (SAC), or candidate SAC, (cSAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a site listed as a site of community importance (SCI), or, as per Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), a possible SAC (pSAC) or potential SPA (pSPA). All Ramsar sites are also Natura 2000 sites and are protected under the relevant statutory regimes’ (Scottish Government, 2014) as confirmed by Scottish Government (2020). A SAC, or candidate SAC, (cSAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a site listed as a Site of Community Importance (SCI), or, as per Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), a possible SAC (pSAC) or potential SPA (pSPA). A Special Area of Conservation (SAC), or candidate SAC, (cSAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a site listed as a site of community importance (SCI), or, as per Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), a possible SAC (pSAC) or potential SPA (pSPA).

Foundation

The load carrying support structure for the wind turbine generator tower or OSP topside. The foundation is the part of the structure from the interfacing flange with the wind turbine tower or topside-foundation interface, down to/below mudline. This includes any secondary steel items associated with the structure.

Ghost Fishing

The phenomenon where lost or discarded fishing gear, such as nets or traps, continues to capture and kill marine organisms, contributing to marine debris and ecosystem degradation.

Gillnets

Fishing nets designed to capture fish by entangling them in the mesh, typically suspended vertically in the water to intercept swimming fish.

Habitat

The environment that a plant or animal lives in.

Habitats Appraisal

A process required by the Habitats Regulations of identifying likely significant effects of a plan or project on a European site and (where likely significant effects are predicted or cannot be discounted) carrying out an appropriate assessment to ascertain whether the plan or project will adversely affect the integrity of the European site. If adverse effects on integrity cannot be ruled out, the latter stages of Regulations the process require consideration of the derogation provisions in the Habitats Regulations.

Habitats Directive

The Habitats Directive is the short name for European Union Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The Directive led to the establishing of European sites and setting out how they should be protected, it also extends to other topics such as European protected species.

Habitats Directive

The Habitats Directive is the short name for European Union Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The Directive led to the establishing of European sites and setting out how they should be protected, it also extends to other topics such as European protected species.A process required by the Habitats Regulations of identifying likely significant effects of a plan or project on a European site and (where likely significant effects are predicted or cannot be discounted) carrying out an appropriate assessment to ascertain whether the plan or project will adversely affect the integrity of the European site. If adverse effects on integrity cannot be ruled out, the latter stages of Regulations the process require consideration of the derogation provisions in the Habitats Regulations.

Habitats Regulations

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species 2017.

Habitats Regulations Appraisal

A process required by the Habitats Regulations of identifying likely significant effects of a plan or project on a European site and (where likely significant effects are predicted or cannot be discounted) carrying out an appropriate assessment to ascertain whether the plan or project will adversely affect the integrity of the European site. If adverse effects on integrity cannot be ruled out, the latter stages of Regulations the process require consideration of the derogation provisions in the Habitats Regulations.

Hammer Energy

The amount of energy available to be transmitted from the hammer to the pile during piling.

Haul Out

When seals (or similar marine mammals) come out of the water to spend time on land.

High Order

Detonation of unexploded ordnance as a clearance method.

Impulsive Noise

Noise which is very brief and with a high rise time and high peak level compared to the energy averaged noise level.

In-combination Effect

The combined effect of the Array in-combination with the effects from a number of different plans or projects on the same feature/receptor as defined by the HRA Regulations.

Income Breeder

A species that relies primarily on current food intake rather than stored energy reserves for reproduction and survival.

Inter-array Cables

Cables connecting wind turbines to each other and to OSPs.

Interconnector Cable

Cable connecting OSPs to each other.

Leslie Matrix

Discrete, age-structured model of population growth used in population ecology. This matrix is often used to describe the growth of populations (and their population age distribution) in which a population is closed to migration, growing in an unlimited environment, and where only one sex, usually female, is considered.

Likely Significant Effect (LSE1)

With respect to the Electricity Works (EIA (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and The Marine Works (EIA) Regulations 2007, a significant effect that may reasonably be predicted as a consequence of a plan or project, on the receiving environment.

Likely Significant Effect (LSE2)

In HRA terms, an LSE is any effect that may reasonably be predicted as a consequence of a plan or project that may affect the conservation objectives of the features for which the European site was designated but excluding trivial or inconsequential effects. An LSE is one that cannot be ruled out on the basis of objective information. A ’significant’ effect is a test of whether a plan or project could undermine the site’s conservation objectives. With respective to Habitat Regulation Appraisals, any effect that may reasonably be predicted as a consequence of a plan or project that may affect the conservation objectives of the features for which the European site was designated but excluding trivial or inconsequential effects. A likely effect is one that cannot be ruled out on the basis of objective information. A ’significant’ effect is a test of whether a plan or project could undermine the site’s conservation objectives (SNH, 2014).

Low Order

Use of techniques such as deflagration to clear unexploded ordnance (UXOs) without resulting in a high order explosion, leading to lower noise levels.

Lowest Astronomical Tide

The highest level of the sea surface with respect to the land.

Management Unit

Management units (MUs) for marine mammals in UK waters that provide an indication of the spatial scales at which impacts of plans and projects alone, cumulatively and in combination, need to be assessed for the key cetacean species in UK waters, with consistency across the UK. For cetaceans, these MUs are defined by the Inter-Agency Marine Mammal Working Group (IAMMWG). For seal species (harbour and grey seal), seal MUs are defined by the Special Committee on Seals (SCOS).

Marine Directorate

Organisation whose purpose is to manage Scotland’s seas (formerly known as Marine Scotland).

Marine Licence

Licence granted under either the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 or the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 in Scottish territorial waters.

Maximum Design Scenario (MDS)

The maximum design parameters of the Array considered to be a worst case for any given assessment but within the range of the Project Description Envelope (PDE).

Micrositing

Movement of infrastructure (for example, wind turbines and OSPs) by small distances within the overall wind farm layout.

Migration

Seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

Mysticetes

Large whales from the taxonomic group Mysticeti that feed using a filtering mechanism comprised of baleen plates.

National Site Network (NSN)

The network of European Sites in the UK. Prior to the UK’s exit from the EU and the coming into force of the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 these sites formed part of the EU ecological network knows as “Natura 2000”.

Natura 2000 Site

Nature conservation sites in Europe designated under the Habitats or Birds Directives.

NatureScot

Formally called Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), NatureScot is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for the country’s natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity.

nepva

R package designed to undertake population viability analysis (PVA) for seabird species.

Noise

Vibration of molecules in a liquid or gas.

Non-Impulsive (or Continuous) Noise

Noise which is either continuous or intermittent but without the characteristics described for impulsive noise.

Odontocetes

A marine mammal of the suborder Odontoceti, characterised by an asymmetrical skull, a single blowhole, and rows of teeth, feeding primarily on fish, squid, and crustaceans.

Offshore Export Cable

High voltage cables used for exporting power from the OSPs to an onshore landfall.

Offshore Substation Platform (OSP)

Offshore substation platform used to convert and transfer the energy collected by the wind turbines to landfall.

Ornithology

A branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds.

Ossian

All components of the offshore wind farm, including the Array, the Proposed offshore export cable corridor(s), and Proposed onshore transmission infrastructure (comprising the Proposed onshore export cable corridor(s) and Proposed onshore converter station at the Proposed landfall location(s))

Ossian Offshore Wind Farm Limited (OWFL)

Joint venture between SSE Renewables (SSER), Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Marubeni Corporation (Marubeni).

Particle Motion

Movement of particles within the water or sediment.

Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)

Change (deterioration) in hearing of an animal which does not recover with time.

Phocid

Seals of the Family Phocidae, represented in the UK by two species: grey seal and harbour seal.

Phototaxis

The response of birds to nocturnal lighting resulting in disorientation and attraction

Pingers

Acoustic devices emitting high-frequency sounds designed to deter marine mammals from areas of potential harm, such as fishing nets or underwater construction sites, reducing the risk of bycatch or disturbance.

Pinniped

Marine mammals that have front and rear flippers and live in the ocean but can come to land for long periods of time. This group includes seals, sea lions and walruses.

Population Viability Analysis (PVA)

The process of determining the probability that a population will persist over a specified time period.

Productivity

The annual population estimate of number of chicks fledged per pair.

Project Design Envelope (PDE)

Project parameters that are assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Array

Proposed Landfall Location(s)

Where the Proposed offshore export cable(s) carrying power from the Array are brought ashore to connect the offshore and onshore infrastructure.

Proposed Offshore Export Cable Corridor(s)

Area within which the offshore export cable(s) will be located between the Array and MHWS.

Proposed Onshore Converter Station(s)

The onshore electricity transmission buildings encompassing a high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter substation comprising of converter buildings, HV internal and/or external equipment.

Proposed Onshore Export Cable Corridor(s)

Proposed Onshore Export Cable Corridor(s) Area within which the Proposed onshore export cable(s) will be located between the Proposed landfall location(s) at MLWS and the Proposed onshore converter substation(s).

Proposed Onshore Transmission Infrastructure

Term used to refer collectively to the Proposed onshore export cable corridor(s) and Proposed onshore converter station(s).

Ramsar Site

Wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention.

Received Level

The noise level of the acoustic signal recorded (or modelled) at a given location.

Receptor

Any physical, biological or anthropogenic element of the environment that may be affected or impacted by the Ossian Project. For the purposes of the current report, such receptors are designated features of an SAC, SPA or Ramsar (or supporting habitats or species of those) and are addressed in groups, specifically benthic ecology, marine mammals, migratory fish (including freshwater pearl mussel) and ornithology .

Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (RIAA)

The information that the Competent Authority needs to inform an Appropriate Assessment at Stage 2 of the HRA process.

RPS

RPS Energy Consultants Ltd.

Sabbatical

In some seabird populations subject to extreme environmental stresses, some breeders within the population will take sabbatical years where they do not breed for that particular year.

Sand Wave

Sand waves are a low ridge of sand formed through the action of the wind or water (through waves or tidal currents).

Scare Charges

Small explosive charges used as a soft-start to high-order disposal of UXO, incrementally increased in size (and subsequent sound level) to provide an auditory deterrent and reduce the risk of injury to marine mammals (and other marine megafauna). Often used following deployment of Acoustic Deterrent Device (ADD) to provide an initial, lower-sound energy deterrent.

Scoping

An early part of the EIA process by which the key potential significant impacts of the Ossian Project are identified, and methodologies identified for how these should be assessed. This process gives the relevant authorities and key consultees opportunity to comment and define the scope and level of detail to be provided as part of the EIA Report – which can also then be tailored through the consultation process.

Scoping Opinion

A report presenting the written opinion of the Scottish Ministers as to the scope and level of detail of information to be provided in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a development.

Scottish Government

The devolved government of Scotland.

Scottish Ministers

The Scottish Government consists of Scottish Ministers.

ScotWind

Programme which will lease areas of the seabed around Scotland for wind farm developments.

SeaBORD

A tool that estimates the cost to individual seabirds, in terms of changes in adult survival and productivity, of displacement and barrier effects resulting from offshore renewable developments.

Secondary Mitigation

Actions that will require further activity in order to achieve the anticipated outcome. These may be imposed as part of the planning consent, or through inclusion in the EIA Report.

Service Operation Vessel (SOV)

Field-based vessel to ensure that offshore wind turbines operate safely and to accommodate personnel.

Site Boundary

The offshore area in which the Array will be constructed.

Site of Community Importance (SCI)

Defined in the Habitats Directive as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type in Annex I, or of a species in Annex II, of the Habitats Directive and may also contribute significantly to the coherence of the Natura 2000 network. The site may also contribute significantly to the maintenance of biological diversity within the biogeographic region or regions concerned. For animal species ranging over wide areas, SCIs shall correspond to the places within the natural range of such species which represent the physical or biological factors essential to their life and reproduction.

Snagging

When part of a vessel or gear gets stuck on a feature beneath the surface of the water.

Soft Start (Geophysical Surveys)

The gradual build up in airgun power in uniform stages from a low energy start up to the required higher energy levels. This is specific to the survey and/or equipment type.

Soft Start (UXO Clearance)

A sequence of small charges deployed prior to the detonation of the UXO.

Soft Start and Ramp Up (Piling)

The gradual increase in hammer energy and strike rate from approximately 15% of the maximum hammer energy at the beginning of the piling sequence, before energy input is ‘ramped up’ (increased) at pre-defined intervals to required higher levels.

Sound Exposure Level

Metric used to measure the cumulative noise energy to which a receiver receptor is exposed.

Sound Pressure

Measure of the resultant change in pressure due to vibration of particles in a fluid or gas.

Spar-Buoys

Floating structures typically anchored to the seafloor, used to support marine equipment or infrastructure such as sensors, navigation aid, or offshore platforms.

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

A site designation specified in the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). Each site is designated for one or more of the habitats and species listed in the Directive. The Directive requires that a management plan be prepared and implemented for each SAC to ensure the favourable conservation status of the habitats or species for which it was designated. In combination with SPAs, these sites contribute to the ‘Natura 2000’ or ‘European’ Sites network.

Special Protected Area (SPA)

A site designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened species.

Species

A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.

Stochasticity

The lack of any predictable order or plan.

Survival Rate

The probability of an individual to survive from one breeding season to the next.

Telemetry

The use of animal-borne sensors to collect and record information on the animals or the environment. In the case of marine mammals this may include data on the location, movement, behaviour or physiological state of the individual, and information on water temperature, salinity, or light levels.

Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS)

Change (deterioration) in hearing of an animal which recovers after some time.

The Applicant

Ossian Offshore Wind Farm Limited (Ossian OWFL).

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation.

United Kingdom (UK)

Political unit consisting of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Wind Turbine

A machine that converts kinetic energy from the wind into electricity comprising the following main parts: nacelle, hub, blades, tower and drivetrain.