Commercial fisheries

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1 Commercial fisheries

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3 Table of Contents 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES Introduction Legislative context and relevant guidance Scoping and consultation Baseline description Introduction Data gaps and uncertainties Fishing activity overview Description of individual fisheries Key ports and vessel numbers Salmon and sea trout fishery Aquaculture Impact assessment Overview Assessment criteria Design Envelope Data gaps and uncertainties Impacts during construction and installation Loss of access to fishing grounds Impacts during operation and maintenance Loss of access to fishing grounds Potential variances in environmental impacts (based on Design Envelope) Cumulative and in-combination impacts Potential cumulative and in-combination impacts during construction and installation Potential cumulative and in-combination impacts during operation and maintenance Mitigation requirements for potential cumulative and in-combination impacts Long term initiatives References Document Number: A S35-EIAS iii

4 14 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES A desk based review of available data was undertaken supported by consultation with fishermen. Low level demersal fisheries targeting haddock, Nephrops and squid are dominant in the turbine deployment area. There is also a low level of pelagic activity in the turbine deployment area (pelagic activity is greater in the export cable corridor). Scallop dredging is the fishery of highest economic value in the export cable corridor. Creels targeting crab and lobster and hand lining for mackerel are also present in the export cable corridor, particularly to the west of the 1 40 longitude line and fishing intensity increases closer to the shore. Vessels fishing this inshore area operate out of local ports. During construction and installation, safety zones will prevent all vessels, including fishing vessels entering within 500 m of construction works both in the turbine deployment area and along the cable route. These areas are only small and only present for a number of weeks, therefore impacts on fisheries will not be significant. HSL will follow FLOWW guidelines and continue to use the already appointed Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO) during the construction period to minimise impacts on fisheries during this period. Following installation, fishing activities will be able to resume along the cable route. However, in the turbine deployment area, there will be a period of up to 18 months after installation of the anchors and mooring systems before the WTG Units will be installed. During this period and the subsequent 20 year operational phase of the Project fisheries may be restricted from the turbine deployment area. However, due to the limited amount of fishing that takes place in the turbine deployment area and availability of suitable fishing areas in the surrounding waters, impacts on fisheries will not be significant. Further liaison with Regulators and stakeholders is planned to ensure the appropriate mitigation is effectively implemented. In particular, the plans for safety zones and/or fishing prohibition, either compulsory or advisory, will need to be agreed with DECC, the MCA and Marine Scotland pre-construction. Although the impacts from the Hywind Scotland Project are not predicted to be significant, in order to mitigate this challenge for new and larger floating wind farms in the future, Statoil is in the process of establishing a project with the objective to look at what activities can be carried out within a floating wind farm and how the area can be used positively in a biological and commercial manner Introduction This chapter assesses the impacts of the Project on commercial fisheries. To quantify spatial and temporal variation, commercial fisheries are described both at the local level and at the wider regional (North Sea) level in order to provide context to the baseline. The assessment has been undertaken by Xodus. Table 14-1 shows the supporting study which relates to the commercial fisheries impact assessment. Supporting studies are provided on the accompanying CD. Details of study Table 14-1 Supporting studies Navigation Risk Assessment Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Project (Anatec, 2014) To gain a better overall understanding of the baseline and potential impacts associated with commercial fisheries; consideration should also be given to the following Environmental Statement (ES) chapters: > Fish and shellfish ecology (Chapter 10); and > Shipping and navigation (Chapter 15). The focus of the impact assessment is potential impacts on commercial fisheries using the Project area. This requires an understanding of the fishing activities that take place in and in the waters adjacent to the Project area so that potential impacts can be out into wider regional context. The following areas are referred to in this impact assessment: Document Number: A S35-EIAS

5 > Project area (see Figure 1-2 in the introduction), which comprises: o o Proposed offshore turbine deployment area: and Export cable corridor and landfall Legislative context and relevant guidance There is no specific legislation which covers the scope of impact assessment on fisheries. However, guidance on licensing and environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements for offshore wind farms (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), 2004) provides a roadmap on how to assess impacts to fisheries from offshore wind farms. In addition the recently published guidelines by the Crown Estate (TCE) regarding best practice for fisheries liaison regarding offshore renewables developments are relevant to the Project (FLOWW, 2014) Scoping and consultation The bullets below summarise the key issues raised in the Scoping Opinion relevant to the commercial fisheries impact assessment: > Potential impacts on commercial fisheries must be considered given the importance of, and dependency on, fishing in the local area and the role that Peterhead port plays in the fishing sector; > The main impacts to be considered from a commercial fisheries perspective will be for the export cable route affecting the inshore static gear fleet, also any vessels using mobile gear. For the turbine deployment area, the presence of cables and anchor chains will exclude any demersal or pelagic fishing within the area; and > There may be disruption to fishermen in the inshore area from vessel traffic associated with the construction of the site and cable route. This could be mitigated against through the agreement of a transit corridor for construction and maintenance vessels. The Scottish Fishermen s Federation (SFF) have been consulted from early in the EIA process (see below) and are supportive of the Project. Table 14-2 summarises all consultation activities carried out relevant to commercial fisheries. Table 14-2 Consultation activities undertaken in relation to commercial fisheries Date Stakeholder Consultation May 2013 May 2013 July 2013 Scottish Fishermen s Federation Marine Scotland (MS- LOT and Marine Scotland Science) and statutory consultees Scottish Fishermen s Federation (SFF) Project update including dimensions and spacing between turbines and anchors. Pre-scoping meeting including discussion on proposed scope of commercial fisheries impact assessment. Methodology and approach to the geophysical survey with reference to potential limitations in fishing activity. Ongoing SFF Discussion of geophysical survey area, approach to survey of areas close to shore, discussion related to locations of current measurement buoys and discussions related to location of WTG Units October 2013 March 2014 Marine Scotland, statutory consultees and non- statutory consultees Marine Scotland, statutory consultees and non- statutory consultees Submission of EIA Scoping Report request for EIA Scoping Opinion from Marine Scotland and statutory consultees and request for comment from nonstatutory consultees. Receipt of Scoping Opinion. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

6 Date Stakeholder Consultation May 2014 Local stakeholders Public event in Peterhead to collate information / opinions on EIA scope. June 2014 Various stakeholders Risk workshop to inform navigation risk assessment Baseline description Introduction The fisheries baseline description is based upon a comprehensive desk-based study supported by consultation. Data sources used to determine the commercial fisheries baseline are detailed in Table Survey/study MMO landings values ( ) and effort (time fished) Marine Scotland landings value ( ) and liveweight (tonnes) Marine Scotland vessel landing data Marine Scotland salmon and sea trout catch statistics by Salmon Fishery District ScotMap spatial data, compatible with GIS Marine Scotland seasonal landings of primary target species Table 14-3 Date of survey/study Summary of relevant data sources Description Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) datasets for UK vessels > 15 m were provided in GIS format. This included details at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Statistical Sub-Rectangle level Landings and effort data for UK vessels landing from ICES Rectangle 43E8 and 44E8 for the period were provided in spreadsheet format by Marine Scotland. This data included details on effort by month, vessel size and gear type which the above source (better resolution data) did not show Active vessel numbers for UK vessels landing from ICES Rectangle 43E8 and 44E8 for the period This data included vessel numbers by landing port, and by month. Data were provided by Marine Scotland in spread sheet format Landings of salmon and sea trout catch from the north east region and rod and line catches from the rivers closest to the project area Spatial information on fishing activity of Scottish registered commercial fishing vessels under 15 m in overall length. Includes data on creel activity, Nephrops trawls, other trawls, dredges and mackerel line fishing Data on the monthly landings of the most targeted species in ICES rectangles 43E8 and 44E8 (excluding squid) including value ( ) and liveweight (tonnes) In addition to these datasets, relevant sources of information were consulted to inform the background and baseline commercial fishing conditions in the Project area, including: > 2012 vessel and employment statistical tables (Marine Scotland, 2012); > 2010 Survey of the UK Seafood Processing Industry. A report published for Seafish (Garrett, 2011); > 2009 Economic Survey of the UK Fishing Fleet (Curtis and Brodie, 2011); > UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2011 (Marine Management Organisation, 2012); and > Individual fishermen and their representatives during consultation (as detailed in Table 14-2) Data gaps and uncertainties Analysis of the data and information sources used for the commercial fisheries assessment are subject to the qualifications, limitations, sensitivities and gaps discussed below. Despite these minor limitations the published Document Number: A S35-EIAS

7 data supported by consultation is considered to have generated a robust baseline against which impacts can be assessed. VMS- based statistics Commercial catch statistics (landings value, tonnage and effort) exist for vessels > 15m length based on data from vessel monitoring systems (VMS). The MMO present these data in an ICES sub-rectangle grid system (3 x 1.75 nm) to provide a geographical context for interpretation. It should be recognised that fishing activity is unlikely to be uniform over the area of an ICES rectangle; the distribution of effort is actually a continuum between those squares which contain little effort and those which are actively exploited. Fishing activity also varies from year to year. In order to take account of this data is averaged over a 5 year period ( ). Some effort is being made to introduce VMS to the m fleet and these data have been included in this assessment, however, there is as of yet, no way of currently addressing the lack of GPS information on where the < 12 m vessels fish. Marine Scotland fisheries statistics Marine Scotland collects and collates fisheries data for the whole of the Scotland. Licenced vessels of < 10 m in length are obliged to submit weekly returns which are the main source of fisheries data for the < 10 m fleet. For the purposes of analysing fishing vessels by length and in light of the varying management measures applying to vessels of different lengths, Marine Scotland datasets divide vessels into three categories: > 15 m vessels, m vessels and < 10 m vessels. Vessels statistics for the different length categories include species caught and ports landed to and are reported at the ICES statistical rectangle scale (30 x 30 nm). The areas of ICES rectangles are very large relative to the proposed development, which is situated in ICES rectangle 43E8 and 44E8. Analysis of these fisheries statistics by ICES rectangle should therefore be treated with caution as it may lead to an overestimation of the value of the fishery that the proposed Project covers. ScotMap Like VMS, ScotMap data has also been presented in a grid system. These data are based on interviews with the inshore fleet (representing <15 m vessel length). ScotMap provides the best available data for the inshore area but notable gaps include: > Not all vessels had been interviewed; > Earnings information was not always available; and > The way some fishermen have defined their fishing areas affected the output resolution of the maps, dispersing value and giving a false impression of where some types of fishing are taking place. Catch statistics for salmon and trout fisheries The catch data used for the purposes of this assessment are as reported to Marine Scotland Science (MSS) and refer to both commercial and recreational fisheries. It is recognised that there may be a degree of error within the catch dataset due to misclassification of fish between the grilse and salmon categories. In addition, further errors as a result of misreporting of catches may also exist Fishing activity overview The available fishing effort and landings data (for vessels > 15 m in length with mobile (trawling) gear) for the area of the North Sea surrounding the Project is summarised in Figure 14-1 and Figure These averaged data cover the period and indicate that fishing effort and value of landings varies throughout the Project area and surrounding waters. These data indicate effort and landings in the proposed turbine deployment area is relatively low compared to other areas of the North Sea. This general fishing pattern was also confirmed during consultation with the Scottish Fishermen s Federation (SFF). Most vessels that actively fished in the Project area between 2008 and 2012 were registered within the UK. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

8 Figure 14-1 Relative distribution of landings ( ) of vessels using mobile gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

9 Figure 14-2 Relative distribution of fishing effort of vessels using mobile gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

10 Figure 14-3 Relative value of inshore fisheries (Scotmap, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

11 Figure 14-3 indicates the relative value of the inshore fishery based on ScotMap data and demonstrates the importance of the inshore areas of the export cable corridor, relative to the entire north east coast of Scotland. Inshore fisheries are concentrated west of 1 40 longitude, as marked on the maps. Figure 14-1 and Figure 14-2 combine multiple types of mobile gear activity in the area. The types of gear utilised are discussed in more detail in Table 14-4, as well as the species they typically target. In context of the Project demersal gear, including dredging, has the potential to interact with mooring lines, anchors, scour protection, inter array cables and export cable and its protection. Pelagic gear has the potential to interact with the mooring lines at the turbine deployment site. Table 14-4 details the likely mobile fishing gears used within the Project area. Table 14-4 Gear Type Single bottom trawl Twin-rig trawl Demersal pair trawl Pelagic pair seining Number of vessels require for fishing Fishing vessel information for different fishing gears active off the coast of Peterhead (Scottish Fishermen s Federation, 2012) Number of nets require for fishing Towing Speed (knots) Tow Duration (hours) Vessel Movement Additional information One One 2-4 Up to 6 Good Nets used are chosen to be compatible with seabed conditions in the area being fished. One Two Fair to Good Sometime associated with heavy rock-hopper ground gear. Two One Fair Vessels 370 m apart; range will close during hauling and pairing up. Two One 2 4 Fair to Poor Nets follow ~2,200 m behind vessels; vessels between one quarter and one third of 1 nm from each other. Siene net One One Poor At greatest distance net is over 1 nm from vessel. Dredge One n/a hours Poor Dredges are towed up to 1 nm from the vessels Target species and fishery type Mixed whitefish, Nephrops and squid - demersal Mixed whitefish, Nephrops and squid - demersal Mixed whitefish Herring and mackerel - pelagic Demersal species Scallops - shellfish In ICES rectangle 43E8 the pelagic fishery is largest by liveweight (tonnes) although the shellfish fishery lands a greater value ( ) of fish. In 44E8 the shellfish fishery is largest in terms of both economic value ( ) and liveweight (tonnes). This is reflected in the species targeted from each rectangle, as shown in Table The top five species landings values have been highlighted in red and are further discussed in the context of the relevant fishery in Section Scallops dominate the species landed from ICES rectangles 43E8, concurrent with dredging being the dominant fishing gear for vessels > 15 m. In the Project area and its immediate waters 1 : > Dredge fishing accounts for 70% of effort and 38% of value; > Haddock landings are second to scallops in ICES rectangle 43E8 but greater than scallops in 44E8; > 29% of effort is demersal, targeting haddock, squid and Nephrops which accounts for 37% of value landed; > Mackerel and herring are targeted by pelagic gear and make up approximately 20% of the value in both rectangles when combined; > The use of pelagic gear accounts for <1% effort and 25% of the value; 1 12 nm, area advised by SFF as a reasonable area to help put fisheries within the Project area into context. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

12 > Brown crab is the third most landed species, however is not reflected in the gear types listed above as they are mobile gears and are typically targeted by creels, a passive gear. Landings values are similar from ScotMap data representing < 15 m vessels (the inshore fleet) whereby scallop and brown crab are the highest value shellfish species (Table 14-5); and > Within the Project area and surrounding 12 nm, 2% of the value of landings originates from the AfL area from the use of these gears and almost 14% comes from the export cable route corridor. In terms of effort, the AfL area contributes 3% and the export cable route corridor contributes 12%. Table 14-5 Species landed from ICES rectangle 43E8 and 44E8 from (Marine Scotland Analytical Unit) Species Value ( ) 43E8 Liveweight (Tonnes) Value ( ) 44E8 Liveweight (Tonnes) Average value % total value Average weight % total weight Average value % total Value Average weight % total weight Scallops 896, , Haddock 187, , Brown crab 170, , Mackerel 123, , Herring 276, , Nephrops 36, , Lobsters 102, , Velvet crabs 39, , Squid 34, , Other species The remaining 2% of value weight is made up from catches of the following species: whiting, cod, monks or anglers, lemon sole, plaice, hake, saithe, halibut, other or mixed demersal, turbot, skates and rays, witch, gurnards (red), other flatfish, ling and catfish Description of individual fisheries Scallop fishery Monetary value The remaining 8% of value and 6% of weight is made up from catches of the following species: whiting, cod, monks or anglers, lemon sole, plaice, hake, saithe, halibut, other or mixed demersal, turbot, megrim, roes, Pollack, skates and rays, witch, gurnards (red), other flatfish, ling, catfish and octopus Figure 14-4 and Figure 14-5 illustrates the distribution of scallop fishing value and effort respectively within the Project area and surrounding waters. Analysis of these data for the Project area and surrounding waters out to 12 nm demonstrate that active large vessels fishing for scallops are worth on average 430,350 per year (between ), the highest economic value of any fishery in this area. Landings within the export cable route corridor are worth on average 65,565 / year. No landings are reported from within the AfL area. Operating patterns and practices Scallop vessels tow one (astern) or two (either side) beams onto which a number of dredges are attached. The number of dredges used depends on vessel size, engine power and winch capacity. In Scottish waters vessels are restricted to eight dredges per side inside 6 nm from shore and up to ten dredges per side between 6 and 12 nm from shore. Scallops are raked from the seabed by a row of sprung steel teeth up to 11 cm in length. Mesh bags are situated behind the teeth to retain the catch. The maximum penetration depth of this gear is up to 20 cm, although this will vary depending on substrate composition. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

13 Figure 14-4 Relative distribution of landings ( ) of vessels using dredge gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

14 Figure 14-5 Relative distribution of fishing effort of vessels using dredge gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

15 Scallop fishing activity is undertaken year round but activity peaks between April and July, inclusive (Figure and Figure 14-13). Scallop fisheries are commonly targeted by two distinct categories: smaller vessels with home ports close to scallop grounds and limited operational range, and larger category nomadic boats which variously target grounds around the UK. For the nomadic fleet, scallop fishing grounds are located on the Scottish east coast, west coast, in the Irish Sea and the English Channel. There are no fluctuations in annual landing values (from the timescale studied), suggesting the number of vessels dredging the Peterhead area are consistent (therefore predominantly local based boats). There are a number of locally based vessels that will spend the majority of time fishing here. In June 2014, there were two vessels from Peterhead active in this fishery, eight from Fraserburgh and five from Aberdeen all of which were over 10 m in length. No vessels <10 m in the area have a scallop license (Marine Management Organisation, 2014). Crab and lobster fishery Monetary value The crab and lobster fishery is the highest value fishing activity by the inshore fleet of <15m length vessels (based on ScotMap data (Figure 14-6). In terms of ICES scale statistics, brown (edible) crab is the second most important species targeted in ICES rectangle 44E8 and fourth most important species targeted in 43E8. Rectangle 44E8 records the highest landings of all shellfish species, at 508,132 per year (averaged ), 16% of the total value of landings from that rectangle (see Table 14-5). In rectangle 43E8 the average annual landed value over the five year period ( ) was 170,598 per year, 9% of the total value of landings from that rectangle (Table 14-5). Lobster are the sixth most important species targeted in both ICES rectangle 43E8 and 44E8, worth on average 102,672 per year and 206,196 per year respectively (averaged ), 5% and 7% of the total value of landings respectively (see Table 14-5). Operating patterns and practices Crab is targeted on a variety of substrates, lobsters are targeted on rocky, uneven ground and around wreck sites (see Chapter 10: fish and shellfish ecology). Crab and lobster are not currently quota restricted, although all vessels landing over a particular weight (200 kg of lobster, 750 kg of crab) must be licensed. Crab and lobster are principally targeted by full time static gear vessels setting creels (pots). The Peterhead inshore fleet is largely comprised of vessels up to 12 m in length which operate from the harbour on a daily basis. Inspection of ScotMap data and consultation with creelers suggest that the majority of activity occurs along the coast within 3 nm, although a moderate number of the vessels also fish out to 6 nm (all inshore of the wind turbine deployment area), i.e. this fishery is present along the inshore areas of the export cable route. Brown crabs are generally targeted between early spring to early May and from September to November. The lobster season commences in May, peaks in July and August and finishes in December. Velvet crab landings fluctuate from year-to-year and the highest catches are recorded in April and May and between October and December. As a result of the limited size of vessels in the area, weather conditions are a significant factor in determining levels of activity in the winter months. In addition to full time vessels, there are also a number of part time vessels that will set a small number of creels in inshore areas during the summer months. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

16 Figure 14-6 Value of vessels using pots (ScotMap, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

17 Whitefish fishery Monetary value The demersal dredge and trawl fishery (which includes haddock, Nephrops and squid) is the second largest fishery within the Project area and immediate waters out to 12 nm, accounting for 36% of the landings value of all mobile gear fisheries Figure 14-7 and Figure 14-8). The whitefish fishery is worth on average 419,933 per year (averaged , based on landings from large vessels (> 15 m length)). Within the Project area, a marginally higher value of landings come from the export cable route corridor ( 41,953) compared to the AfL area ( 30,649). Finfish - operating patterns and practices There is a historic whitefish fishery in the region, targeting species such as haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus cod Gadus morhua and whiting Merlangius merlangus using demersal otter trawl and Scottish seine netting fleets. Demersal trawling is the most common fishing method in Scottish waters in terms of vessel numbers. The whitefish trawl fishery is for the most part a mixed fishery whereby multiple demersal species are simultaneously caught. EU quota restrictions and upon the landing of cod have reduced the fleet s ability to fish alternative species. As a result of a lack of available quota, demersal trawlers have diversified into the Nephrops fishery, where quota levels are not so restrictive. Although the Buchan Deep is not fished intensively, it is a specific area of greater individual importance than the surrounding area for haddock. This is because vessels target the species in the winter here, but the reason for this is quota-related rather than seasonal distribution. It is considered that the low level of cod landings recorded (Table 14-5) are by-catches from the other demersal fisheries. Nephrops - operating patterns and practices Nephrops gear is configured in the same way as that used to target whitefish but with modified nets. Nephrops inhabit burrows in the seabed and favour muddy and soft substrates. Vessels tow one or more trawl nets (single or twin rig) along the seabed. Vessels target Nephrops year round in ICES Rectangles 43E8 and 44E8, although there are seasonal fluctuations in catches (Figure and Figure 14-13). The majority of Nephrops vessels are < 15 m in length and therefore not satellite tracked. As a result of the limited size of vessel in the area, weather conditions are a significant factor in determining levels of activity in the winter months. Squid - operating patterns and practices Although not currently a high value species, this fishery is included in the assessment because consultation with fishermen s associations and fishermen identified it as becoming increasingly important in the Peterhead / Buchan Deep area. The squid fishery currently provides an alternative to other quota restricted stocks. Annual landings values vary significantly as the fishery is dependent on the area s highly variable population. The fishery is currently unregulated and unrestricted, although there is the potential for management measures to be put in place in the future. Bottom otter trawlers targeting Nephrops reconfigure gear to target squid (using nets with a smaller mesh size and a higher headline). Squid is often targeted on rough ground and vessels may employ protective gear, such as rockhoppers. As mentioned previously, the majority of these vessels are <15 m in length and therefore not satellite tracked. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

18 Figure 14-7 Relative distribution of landings ( ) of > 15 m vessels using demersal gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

19 Figure 14-8 Relative distribution of fishing effort of > 15 m vessels using demersal gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

20 Herring and mackerel fishery Monetary value The pelagic fishery (which includes herring and mackerel) is the least important fishery (in economic terms) within the Project area and immediate waters out to 12 nm, accounting for 25% of landings from all fisheries. The pelagic fishery is worth on average 285,041 per year (averaged ) (Table 14-5). Within the Project area, a higher value of landings come from the export cable route corridor ( 50,592) compared to the AfL area ( 1,385) (Figure and Figure 14-11). Operating patterns and practices Pelagic or mid-water trawl vessels are amongst the most powerful in European waters. They are also mainly multipurpose vessels capable of pursing and pelagic pair-trawling as well as pelagic trawling. Pelagic species, mainly herring, mackerel, and sprat, are habitually mid-water shoaling fish, but during full daylight conditions they will congregate in dense shoals near the sea-bed. Normally they are caught while they are nearer the surface but it is possible to trawl for them near the bottom. In normal circumstances these nets would not come into hard contact with the seabed having no protective ground-line, but could potentially interact with a high structure. The herring season is focused on the period July to September and the mackerel season on the period August to February (Coull et al., 1998). Herring, in particular, has a short season between July and October. Mackerel is fished over a longer season but remains concentrated over the summer and early autumn months, between June and October (Figure and Figure 14-13) (Scottish Government, 2014). Hand-lining for mackerel There is a significant hand-line fishery for mackerel in the summer months between May and November. An estimated 45 vessels are understood to target the fishery from Peterhead (based on ScotMap data as shown in Figure 14-9). Consultation with local fishermen has identified the principal grounds, which are shown in Figure 14-3 and provided by ScotMap. It should be noted that these grounds have variable degrees of importance to local fishermen due to variations in quota allocation. It has been recently announced that the Scottish allocation of mackerel quota for inshore fishing will be increased by 1,000 tonnes in 2014 as part of a two year trial. This increase will bring the total quota to 1,300 tonnes for all vessels < 10 m which could be worth an additional 1.2m to the sector (Inshore Fisheries Conference, 2014). Document Number: A S35-EIAS

21 Figure 14-9 Value of line fisheries (primarily mackerel) (ScotMap, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

22 Figure Relative distribution of landings ( ) of vessels using pelagic gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

23 Figure Relative distribution of fishing effort of vessels using pelagic gear (MMO, 2014) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

24 Figure Seasonal landings of most common fished species (squid absent) in ICES Rectangle 43E8 (Marine Scotland Analytical Unit) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

25 Figure Seasonal landings of most common fished species (squid absent) in ICES Rectangle 44E8 (Marine Scotland Analytical Unit) Document Number: A S35-EIAS

26 Key ports and vessel numbers Peterhead, Aberdeen and Fraserburgh are the nearest commercial UK fishing ports to the Project area. Peterhead is the UK s largest commercial fishing port reporting landings of 105 thousand tonnes in 2012 worth million (Marine Management Organisation, 2013). Based on 2012 statistics Fraserburgh employs the largest number of people full time out of these three Scottish ports (797) (Marine Management Organisation, 2013). Fish processing in Fraserburgh and Peterhead collectively supports around 3,000 jobs (Peterhead and Fraserburgh Fish Processing Association, 2013). The majority of vessels operating in rectangles 43E8 and 44E8 are based at local ports. Table 14-6 shows the number of active vessels fishing in ICES Rectangle 43E8 and 44E8 and compares this to the number of vessels registered at these ports and expresses this as a proportion. These figures represent the potential vessel numbers expected to be encountered. On average, 72% of the vessels from Peterhead and 47% from Fraserburgh have fished in ICES rectangles 43E8 and 44E8. The proportion of vessels utilising these rectangles is comparable with the proportion of landings into Peterhead coming from ICES rectangles 43E8 and 44E8 (71% and 73% respectively). Similarly, 20% of landings into Fraserburgh come from rectangle 43E8 and 74% from 44E8.Data held by Marine Scotland demonstrate that landings from within ICES Rectangle 44E8 were recorded every year at Peterhead, Fraserburgh (and Aberdeen for 43E8). Fish is also landed from 43E8 at a number of other smaller ports (Boddam and Port Errol) however these are not included in Table 14-6 as landings only occurred from two or less out of the five years. The smaller ports of Macduff, Gardenstown, Whitehills and Rosehearty are also important for landings from 44E8 having landed consistently for the past years. Given the location of these smaller ports (between 35 and 67 km from the turbine deployment area) and the smaller size of vessel, landings are likely to be from the northern half of the ICES rectangle, closer to the home port, rather than the Project area. Table 14-6 Origin of active fishing vessels landing from ICES Rectangle 43E8 and 44E8 from 2008 to 2012 (Marine Scotland Analytical Unit) Landing Port Number of active vessels Average no. of active vessels < 10 43E8 m Total no. registered vessels in m Peterhead Aberdeen Fraserburgh E8 Fraserburgh Peterhead Salmon and sea trout fishery > 15 m Total Proportion of home fleet landing from the Project area (%) Rivers on the northeast coast of Scotland have nationally and internationally important populations of salmon and sea trout. Both species form an important part of Scotland s natural heritage and support and maintain the existence of commercial and recreational fisheries which are of importance to the Scottish economy (Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, 2004). Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and sea trout Salmo trutta are diadromous or migratory species of fish, with a life cycle that includes time in freshwater river environments and at sea. After a period spent in a riverine environment, the individuals undertake a marine migration to offshore feeding grounds, returning after a varying number of years to their natal river to spawn (refer to Chapter 10: fish and shellfish ecology). It is probable they will transit the export cable corridor and migration and catch levels could therefore potentially be disrupted. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

27 Each fishery in Scotland is required to provide the number and total weight of salmon and grilse and sea trout caught and retained in each month of the fishing season. The principal salmon and sea trout fisheries are rod and line (including catch and release), fixed engine (bag netting) and net and coble. The fishery is managed through fishery districts, each of which has a District Salmon Fishery Board (DSFB). Salmon and sea trout catches are recorded under the following categories: > Sea trout; > Salmon (multi-sea winter fish); and > Grilse (salmon that have only spent one year at sea). Analysis of fisheries statistics for the north east of Scotland identified a very low level of netting activity in the area of the export cable corridor, throughout the year (Table 14-7). The net fishery The proposed cable landfall is located within the jurisdiction of the Ugie DSFB. The Ugie DSFB covers the whole of the River Ugie (located just north of the cable landfall area) catchment area, which is situated in the North East corner of Scotland. The river enters the sea to the north of Peterhead. The majority of the catches in this region are in the Esk district (North and South Esk). The River Ugie is a relatively small river in terms of length but still operates a productive fishery by all methods (rod and line, fixed engine and net and coble). Salmon and sea trout are caught by the rod angling fraternity in the river and in the sea from Boddam to Cairnbulg. There are three active traps for fixed engine methods in the River Ugie, which operate April to September, and two traditional bag nets that operate between May and August. Much of the caught and retained fish from the net fishery (Table 14-7) are smoked and sold by two companies based in Peterhead: Ugie Salmon Fishing Company Limited and Lunar. The DSFB, along with the Ugie Angling Association and the river management team, operate a hatchery, commission electro surveys of the juvenile population, are constantly repairing the river banks and improving the accessibility to the spawning beds of the returning adult salmon and trout. Table 14-7 Number of wild salmon, grilse and sea trout caught and retained by the north east salmon fishery region and by method during 2012 with the percentage values for the River Ugie in brackets (Marine Scotland Analytical Unit) Method Number in north east fishery region Salmon Grilse Salmon + grilse Jan-Apr May-Dec Annual Rod and line 39 1,149 1, , Net and coble ,243 2,113 2,179 Fixed engine 49 1,958 2,007 1,841 3, Sea trout All methods 88 (1%) 3,977 (2%) 4,065 (2%) 3,795 (1%) 7,860 (2%) 3,892 (5%) The rod and line fishery Wild catches by rod and line in-river that are released are low in the River Ugie. Data provided from the Marine Scotland Analytical Unit indicate catches of less than 100 sea trout and less than 60 salmon (individual fish) were caught in the river in 2012 (Table 14-8). Considerably higher numbers of fish (few hundred individuals) are caught in other east coast rivers such as the Rivers Dee, Don, Ythan, South Esk and North Esk and Bervie. Fishing by rod and line is seasonal: salmon is between September and October; grilse between July and October and sea trout are principally caught from April to October. Document Number: A S35-EIAS

28 Table 14-8 Number of wild salmon, grilse and sea trout caught and released by north east salmon fishery region and district from rod and line fisheries during 2012 (Marine Scotland Analytical Unit) District Salmon Jan-Apr May-Dec Annual Number of individuals Grilse Salmon + grilse Sea trout South Esk North Esk and Bervie Dee (Aberdeenshire) Don Ythan Ugie All Districts Aquaculture There are no active aquaculture sites within the vicinity of the Project (NMPI, 2014) Impact assessment Overview Following establishment of the baseline conditions of the Project and surrounding area and an understanding of the Project activities, it is possible to assess the potential impacts from the Project. The range of impacts that has been considered is based on impacts identified during EIA scoping and any further potential impacts that have been identified as the EIA has progressed. The impacts assessed are summarised below. It should be noted that not all impacts are relevant to all phases of the Project. > Loss of access to fishing grounds during construction; and > Restriction of fishing activities during operation. Fishing gear and anchor interaction was also identified as a potential impact. This has been assessed in the shipping and navigation impact assessment (Chapter 15) and is not considered to represent an unacceptable risk. It is not discussed further here. Change in abundance of targeted species was identified as a potential impact during EIA Scoping however it has since been determined (by the fish ecology impact assessment in Chapter 10) that there will be no significant changes to the distribution or abundance of fish species. As such, the potential for indirect effects on fisheries are considered unlikely and are not considered further. For each potential impact, the implications for fisheries during the construction / installation and operation / maintenance phase of the offshore turbine deployment area and the export cables are where appropriate assessed separately Assessment criteria The EIA process and methodology are described in detail in Chapter 6. Specific criteria relating to commercial fisheries have been developed for sensitivity of receptor and magnitude of effect as detailed in Table 14-9 and Table respectively. The sensitivity of receptor and magnitude of effect are then combined to determine the level of impact and presented alongside a qualitative understanding of likelihood (using the criteria detailed in Chapter 6). The Document Number: A S35-EIAS

29 definitions for level of impact and how they relate to significance are presented in Chapter 6, Table 6-1 and Table 6-2. Table 14-9 Criteria for sensitivity of commercial fisheries Sensitivity Very high High Medium Low Negligible Definition No spatial adaptability due to operational range and ability to deploy only one gear type. No recoverability due to inability to mitigate loss of fishing area by operating in alternative areas. Low spatial adaptability due to limited operational range and ability to deploy only one gear type. Dependence mostly on one area but with some fishing activity occurring in other areas. Low recoverability due to inability to mitigate loss of fishing area by operating in alternative areas. Some spatial adaptability due to extent of operational range and/or ability to deploy an alternative gear type. Dependence on a limited number of fishing grounds. Limited recoverability with some ability to mitigate loss of fishing area by operating in alternative areas. High spatial adaptability due to extensive operational range and/or ability to deploy a number of gear types. Ability to fish a moderate number of fishing grounds. High recoverability due to ability to mitigate loss of fishing area by operating in range of alternative areas of the North Sea. Fisheries are not sensitive to change. Table Criteria for magnitude of effect Magnitude of effect Severe Major Moderate Minor Negligible Definition Effect is widespread, or occurs over a prolonged duration, or at a high frequency (e.g. repeated or continuous effect), resulting in extensive permanent changes to baseline fishing areas and their condition. Effect is over a large scale or spatial extent, or occurs long term, or at a medium-high frequency, resulting in extensive temporary change or some permanent change to baseline fishing areas and their condition. Effect is localised, or occurs for a short duration, or at a medium frequency, resulting in temporary changes or limited permanent changes to baseline fishing areas and their condition. Detectable disturbance or change to baseline fishing areas and their condition and no long term noticeable effects above the level of natural variation experienced for commercial fisheries. No change or an imperceptible change to the baseline fishing areas and their condition. Note: Magnitude of effect is presented as a variety of parameters including duration, timing, size and scale, and frequency. Definitions in this table may not be appropriate for all effects, for example there may be an effect which is over a very small area (minor or moderate) but is repeated a large number of times during a particular phase of the project (major or severe). In such cases expert judgement is used to determine the most appropriate magnitude ranking and this is explained through the narrative of the assessment Design Envelope This assessment considers the Project parameters which are predicted to result in the greatest environmental impact. This approach ensures that impacts of greater adverse significance would not arise should any other development scenario be taken forward in the final scheme design. With regards to the assessment of impacts on commercial fisheries the assessment considers: > Total area of sea occupied by the indicative turbine layout (including the area occupied by the anchors and mooring system and inter array cables) is 15 km 2 ; Document Number: A S35-EIAS

30 > The turbines will be anchored in a water depth of m via mooring lines with a length of up to 600-1,200 m; > WTG Unit anchoring systems which will include mooring lines present on the seabed (between m of mooring line per anchor and a maximum of 15 anchors for the whole Pilot Park); > Scour protection maybe required around the anchors which if required would occupy an area of up to 15 m beyond the edge of each anchor; > Inter array cables of which it is assumed there could be up to 15 km of (5 cables, each of up to 3 km in length) and up to 7.5 km could be rock dumped for cable stabilisation purposes; > An export cable of up to 35 km in length and requiring rock protection along up to 2 km of its length. The rock protection would occupy a 6 m wide corridor; > Four cable crossings, each requiring 360 m 2 of rock protection; > Cable landfall installation as a surface laid cable across the foreshore requiring a working corridor of 6 m wide (however it should be noted that the base case is HDD); > Installation of moorings and inter array cables prior to WTG Units; and > 500 m safety zones may be present during construction and installation activities (safety zones will need to be applied for). The impacts from potential alternative development options are addressed in Section Data gaps and uncertainties With regard to the operational phase of the Project, further consultation is still required with the MCA and DECC regarding safety zones, or other methods of protecting against fishing gear interaction. The agreed strategy, whether mandatory or advisory, will be implemented and notified to UKHO for suitable depiction on Admiralty charts Impacts during construction and installation Loss of access to fishing grounds Turbine deployment area The monetary value of landings from within the proposed turbine deployment area is relatively low when taken in the context of the value of grounds around the northeast of Scotland and indeed the UK. The principal commercial species targeted by gear type in and around the turbine deployment area are pelagic trawling for herring and mackerel and demersal trawling for haddock, Nephrops and squid. Safety zones of 500 m around areas of offshore works may be present during the construction and installation period (safety zones will need to be applied for). All vessels, including fishing vessels, will be excluded from the safety areas. Following installation of the anchors and mooring system, there will be a time lag of up to 18 months before the hook-up of the WTG Units. The seabed infrastructure will pose a risk to fishing vessels at the turbine deployment site. Information on the location of the infrastructure may be provided to fishermen, for example via FishSafe, allowing them to manage the risk independently (Anatec, 2014). Document Number: A S35-EIAS

31 Assessment of impact significance The sensitivity of fisheries is considered low on the basis that although some fishing activity is located within the turbine deployment area most effort is outside the area. The magnitude of the effect is considered minor as areas of exclusion and restricted access during construction and prior to WTG Unit installation are confined to a small area of locally available fishing grounds. The overall level of impact is therefore minor and not significant. This impact is certain to occur. Export cable route Sensitivity Magnitude of effect Level of impact Low Minor Minor Impact significance - NOT SIGNIFICANT The export cable route passes through scallop and Nephrops fishing grounds, creel grounds for crab and lobster, and seasonal squid fishing areas. There is also potential for the export cable route to overlap with the migration of diadromous fish (salmon and trout) for which there are small fisheries in the local area. As with the turbine deployment area, there may be a safety zone of 500 m around the cable laying vessel(s) over a period of up to a month (safety zones will need to be applied for). Assessment of impact significance Sensitivity is considered medium based on the fact the inshore fisheries present along the export cable corridor are fished by local vessels with home parts close by. The magnitude of the effect is assessed as minor as the exclusion during construction will be limited to the safety zone area around the installation vessel(s) and the duration of installation is very short term (one month). In addition, alternative fishing grounds are available in the immediate vicinity. The overall level of impact is minor and not significant. This impact is certain to occur. Sensitivity Magnitude of effect Level of impact Medium Minor Minor Impact significance - NOT SIGNIFICANT MITIGATION Although no significant impact has been identified, the following mitigation measures based on the FLOWW 2 guidelines will be implemented to ensure this remains the case, including: > A Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO) has already been appointed for the Project and will continue in this role during construction to ensure fishermen are informed in advance of installation plans and to promptly answer any queries from fishermen; > Details of the Project will be included in updated Kingfisher fishermen s awareness charts and FishSAFE; and > Additional mitigation measures for all shipping and navigation have been identified in Chapter 15: shipping and navigation. 2 The Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables Group (FLOWW) was set up in 2002 to foster good relations between the fishing and offshore renewable energy sectors and to encourage co-existence between both industries. The FLOWW Best Practice Guidance for Offshore Renewables Developments: Recommendations for Fisheries Liaison was published in January Document Number: A S35-EIAS