2ad1191047fb401d83a3e2a77a101901 eng series Nick Wood RWE Npower Renewables Limited nicholas.wood@rwe.com pointOfContact 2014-01-21 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.7 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2011, RPS, Zone 8 - Bristol Channel Atlantic Array, Benthic Ecology Surveys 2011-02-04 publication AA_Benthic_Ecology_Survey RPS Ltd, acting on Bristol Channel Zone Ltd's behalf as the lead Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultant for the atlantic Array project, undertook a number of specific technical disciplines, including the marine ecology aspects of the project. In order to characterise the benthic ecology of the proposed development site, potential export cable routes and surrounding area, for the purpose of informing the EIA process, subtidal benthic sampling was undertaken using a combined benthic grab (0.1m2 Hamon grab) and drop down video (DDV) sampling method. Following review of the geophysical data, benthic sampling locations within the Atlantic Array development site and export cable routes were refined to ensure that all broad scale sediment types and seabed features identified by the geophysical survey were adequately represented in the sampling array. The sampling array was also designed to ensure that all previously identified biotopes present in the survey area were also adequately sampled (Mackie et al., 2006). The survey specification was further refined following consultation with statutory and non-statutory consultees. Samples for both physical (particle size analysis) and biological (benthic infaunal analysis) were collected from each grab sample. Epibenthic trawls were also undertaken in order to collect information on epibenthic invertebrate species, as well as small demersal and juvenile fish. In addition, separate potting surveys for crab and whelk have been undertaken. The purpose of these surveys is to inform the characterisation of shellfish resources within the wind farm site and to provide a baseline suitable for future pre/post construction monitoring of these species should a need for this be identified during the EIA process. Finally, a series of otter trawl surveys have been conducted. The study will provide information on the spatial and temporal variability of commercially targeted fish (and shellfish) species and non-commercial associated species assemblages prior to the development of the Atlantic Array OWF. These surveys will serve to increase the rigour of the marine ecology description used in support of impact assessments on this resource as part of the EIA process. Jon Eckert RPS Planning and Development 01291 621821 01297 627827 Conrad House, Beaufort Square Chepstow Monmouthshire NP16 5EP United Kingdom eckertj@rpsgroup.com http://www.rpsgroup.com/ originator RWE Npower Renewables Limited Offshore Windfarm Lease Round 3 Zone 8 Developers atlanticarray@npower-renewables.com custodian notPlanned .pdf .shp .jpg .xls Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Geographical grid systems Habitats and biotopes Land cover Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Zoobenthos generic abundance Horizontal spatial co-ordinates Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Habitat extent Habitat characterisation Seabed photography SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Agreement for Lease Area Offshore Cable Corridor Intertidal zone Cable Landfall The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Areas 2012-05-15 revision 1 Consenting The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Phases 2012-05-15 revision 1 Shellfish abundance and biomass in water bodies SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2013-08-02 revision 76 Fish abundance in water bodies SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2013-08-02 revision 76 TRAWL Global Change Master Directory Instrument Keywords 2008-01-22 revision 3 Marine Biodiversity MEDIN Parameter Discipline Keywords 2012-06-09 revision 3 otherRestrictions Distributed publically as a part of the Atlantic Array Environmental Statement. Access to datasets negotiable. Requests for Access to be directed to the RWE Innogy UK's Offshore Wind Projects team eng biota environment geoscientificInformation imageryBaseMapsEarthCover SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision benthic boundary layer International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation Bristol Channel -5.167763 -3.832290 50.959128 51.687838 2010-09-12 2011-03-04 http://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/search?q=#fq=fq%3DProject%253Amde1r3z8aa8561 download https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/details/2636/summary A link to the web service or dataset. https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk A link to the general host site. series For DDV / Benthic grab sampling, a total of 151 sites were proposed for the benthic ecology sampling array, i.e. the proposed development area, export cable routes, tidal excursion and reference sites (3 reference blocks of 3 sites each were selected outside the tidal excursion). Benthic grabs were not expected to be collected at sites which were identified as exposed bedrock in the geophysical survey. A total of 23 epibenthic trawls were planned within the project area and the tidal excursion. This included one trawl at each of the reference blocks outside the tidal excursion. Up to 12 chemical samples were planned to be taken within the construction area and along the proposed cable route options, the final number being dependent on an on-site assessment, based on the presence of sediments suitable for chemical analysis (i.e. very fine sands, silt or mud). An additional 13 sites were specified for particle size analysis (PSA) sampling only, as specified by the coastal modelling team at ABP.