2006, DHI Water and Environment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Marine Mammals in the NW3 Area, Irish Sea series https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=015_7c79b44f781f582985610c3ce4682c8e This project examines the environmental impact on marine mammals as a result of the construction of the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm. The report contains both a baseline on the occurrence of marine mammals, an assessment of the impacts of the individual projects and all five planned wind farm projects, as well as suggestions for mitigation measures and assessments regarding the residual impacts. The impact assessment includes three different foundation designs for WoW and WoDS as well as three different layouts for WoW. The collection of baseline data in the NW3 area using aerial and ship-based survey techniques closely followed the procedures outlined in the Walney Scoping report. On the basis of these data and observations made by the Solway Shark Watch and Marine Mammal Survey, the East Irish Sea may be characterised as a region with low abundance of cetaceans and pinnipeds, although harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) display medium abundances in parts of the region. The status and distribution of marine mammals highlights the NW3 development area as relatively important to three species: harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Because the area plays a less significant role as either a migratory pathway or feeding habitat for the other regularly occurring species, the assessment of short- and long-term impacts focuses on these three species. 200601 200601