Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable
Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable
Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable
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5.7.1 POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS<br />
Disturbance <strong>of</strong> normal behaviour in the intertidal<br />
Potential impacts <strong>and</strong> mitigration measures<br />
In the intertidal zone, the impact <strong>of</strong> disturbance upon birds may be significant.<br />
The presence <strong>of</strong> construction plant <strong>and</strong> activity is likely to cause temporary<br />
disturbance to birds which would otherwise be foraging, loafing <strong>and</strong> roosting.<br />
The significance <strong>of</strong> the impact depends upon a number <strong>of</strong> factors, including the<br />
importance <strong>of</strong> the intertidal site to birds, the duration <strong>of</strong> intertidal works <strong>and</strong><br />
the season in which the works are programmed. Such disturbance would be<br />
particularly significant if the intertidal area in question is designated as an SPA.<br />
Disturbance <strong>of</strong> normal behaviour at sea<br />
The installation <strong>of</strong> export cables involves activity in shallow coastal waters that<br />
can provide favourable foraging habitat for a wide range <strong>of</strong> seabird species,<br />
particularly in areas <strong>of</strong> shallow s<strong>and</strong>banks. Noise levels <strong>and</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong><br />
vessels <strong>and</strong> machinery associated with the installation process may impact<br />
on the use <strong>of</strong> the area by foraging birds, or those ‘rafting’ on the sea, through<br />
disturbance <strong>of</strong> normal behaviour. However, given the transient nature <strong>of</strong> cable<br />
installation, such disturbance will be highly limited, both spatially <strong>and</strong> temporally<br />
<strong>and</strong> would not be <strong>of</strong> major concern.<br />
5.7.2 OTHER EFFECTS<br />
Prey availability<br />
Impacts on the seabed, <strong>and</strong> within the water column, that cause direct removal<br />
or displacement (i.e. due to noise) <strong>of</strong> fish <strong>and</strong> benthos, may indirectly impact<br />
birds through a reduction <strong>of</strong> prey availability in favoured foraging habitat.<br />
Offshore, foraging seabirds target a range <strong>of</strong> different fish species, particularly<br />
in shallow coastal waters. If installation activity causes the movement <strong>of</strong> prey<br />
species out <strong>of</strong> the area, this is likely to result in a related displacement <strong>of</strong> bird<br />
species that would follow the prey. The impact <strong>of</strong> displacement would be limited<br />
in both extent <strong>and</strong> duration <strong>and</strong> not considered as being significant, unless the<br />
cable is to be installed in an area that supports an important prey resource that<br />
has a limited distribution in the wider study area <strong>and</strong> is associated with a sea<br />
area considered to be suitable for the designation <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fshore SPAs 5 .<br />
Similarly, in the intertidal zone, there may be a short term decrease in prey<br />
abundance caused by the direct loss <strong>of</strong> flora <strong>and</strong> fauna in the footprint <strong>of</strong> the<br />
installation device. The significance <strong>of</strong> this impact would depend on the availability<br />
<strong>of</strong> similar prey within the intertidal, outside the installation footprint.<br />
5 http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1414<br />
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