7. Summary
- Data gathered through a desk-top review and DAS found that the northern North Sea supports a number of different marine mammal species with internationally important populations of certain species occurring within the vicinity of the Proposed Development. Key marine mammals identified within the Regional and Proposed Development marine mammal study areas included: harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, minke whale, white-beaked dolphin, grey seal and harbour seal. Where possible, mean monthly density estimates were generated for this species using site-specific data (from DAS) gathered during monthly aerial digital surveys across the Proposed Development array area plus ~16 km buffer. Where it was not possible to estimate densities due to low sightings rates, data were sought from published sources including regional studies of key species. As agreed with consultees, coastal bottlenose dolphin densities are based on most up-to-date abundances estimated by Arso Civil et al. (2021) and probability of occurrence model from Arso Civil et al. (2019). A summary of the mean densities for each species are provided in Table 7.1 Open ▸ .
- In accordance with advice received during consultation where population-level effects were considered for a given species-impact pathway, these were informed by species MUs. The IAMMWG provided advice on cetacean MUs (IAMMWG, 2021) and the SCOS (SCOS, 2021) provided advice on seal MUs ( Table 7.1 Open ▸ ).
- Sites designated for the conservation of internationally important populations in proximity to the Proposed Development marine mammal study area included the Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC designated for harbour seal and the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC and Isle of May SAC designated for grey seal. The east coast of Scotland bottlenose dolphin population has connectivity with the Moray Firth SAC 167 km to the north of the Proposed Development array area. Further afield, within the regional marine mammal study area, there were a number of sites designated for internationally important populations of harbour porpoise with the closest being the Southern North Sea SAC at 146 km from the Proposed Development array area.
Table 7.1: Summary of Marine Mammal Receptors to be Considered in the Marine Mammal EIA Offshore Report Chapter Together with Relevant Densities and Reference Populations
1 Site-specific densities (mean and seasonal peak) estimated from Proposed Development aerial digital survey data (2019 to 2021).
2 Minimum and maximum densities for the 2 m to 20 m depth contour along the east coast derived from 5-year average from Arso Civil et al. (2021) with proportion at the outer Firth of Tay assigned using probability of occurrence (Arso Civil et al., 2019).
3 SCANS-III (Hammond et al., 2021).
4 Mean and maximum across the Proposed Development marine mammal study area based on at-sea mean density maps (Carter et al., 2020).
5 Mean monthly density based on site-specific Proposed Development aerial digital survey data (2019 to 2021) and maximum density based on at-sea mean usage maps (mean, Carter et al., 2020) across the Proposed Development marine mammal study area.
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