3d9bb485-4577-4cd7-bfc2-f656a720750b eng series Celtic Array GIS and Data Manager Millstream East, First Floor Windsor SL4 5GD United Kingdom info@celticarray.com round3.documentcontrol@centrica.com www.celticarray.com pointOfContact 2014-09-11 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2010-2014, CMACS, Zone 9 Celtic Array, Benthic, Fish and Intertidal Surveys 2014-09 creation 2014-09 publication R32013CMACSBenthicEcology http://www.centrica.com documentDigital imageDigital mapDigital tableDigital This study forms chapters (9 & 10) of the Stage 2 Preliminary Environmental Information (Stage 2 PEI) of the Rhiannon Offshore Wind Farm, which is part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The study was carried out by CMACS - Centre for Marine & Coastal Studies and it describes the existing environment with regards to Benthic Ecology and Fish and Shellfish Ecology and assesses the potential impacts of the Offshore Development area of the proposed Rhiannon Wind Farm (RWF) on the Benthic and Fish ecology. The assessment describes and focuses on the impacts on relevant receptors associated with the Offshore Development of Rhiannon Wind Farm (RWF), which extends seaward from Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) seaward (including any potential impacts in the intertidal area). This consists of the Wind Farm Site and Export Cable Area (ECA – which is the area within which sub-sea export cables will bring power from the Wind farm site to shore at a number of potential Cable Landfall Sites along the north Anglesey coastline). The Wind Farm Site includes all wind turbines, intra-array cables, and ancillary structures such as substations and convertor stations. The Potential cumulative impacts between the Offshore and Onshore developments was also assessed. Corresponding Centrica Document No: Benthic Ecology :SE-D-EV-075-0002-000000-009 ; SE-D-EV-075-0002-000000-009-Att1; SE-D-EV-075-0002-000000-009-Att2; SE-D-EV-075-0002-000000-009-Att3; Intertidal Technical Report: SE-D-EV-075-0002-000000-009-Att4; Fish and Shellfish Ecology : SE-D-EV-075-0002-000000-010; Available Datasets : 1. ArcGIS files (mxds, .gdb, shapefiles, metadata files (xml)), 2. Drawings (pdf, jpeg), 3. Reports (.doc, .xls, .txt) Please note reports are still in draft. To assess the potential impacts of the Rhiannon Offshore Wind Farm on Benthic, Fish and Shellfish Ecology in the Irish Sea Zone as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). And also to undertake an intertidal environmental characterisation survey at the proposed export cable landfall sites for the Rhiannon Offshore Wind Farm Project (ROWF). onGoing Celtic Array GIS and Data Manager Millstream East, First Floor Windsor SL4 5GD United Kingdom round3.documentcontrol@centrica.com info@celticarray.com custodian CMACS - Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies Ltd GIS Officer 80 Eastham Village Road Eastham CH62 0AW United Kingdom info@cmacsltd.co.uk www.cmacsltd.co.uk originator notPlanned Shapefile MXD, PDF Unknown txt unknown doc unknown Fish taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2019-07-26 revision 113 Shellfish abundance and biomass in water bodies SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2019-07-26 revision 113 Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2019-07-26 revision 113 Sediment benthos grab core MEDIN Data Guidelines 2020-01-15 revision 6 Consenting The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Phases 2012-05-15 revision 1 Zone search area The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Areas 2012-05-15 revision 1 Intertidal zone The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Areas 2012-05-15 revision 1 Habitat characterisation SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2019-07-26 revision 113 Geographic Information System MEDIN data format categories 2009-07-30 revision 1 Benthic primary production SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2019-07-26 revision 113 Fish abundance in water bodies SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2019-07-26 revision 113 Offshore Cable Corridor The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Areas 2012-05-15 revision 1 Cable Landfall The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Areas 2012-05-15 revision 1 Fish and benthos trawl tow MEDIN Data Guidelines 2020-01-15 revision 6 Video survey MEDIN Data Guidelines 2020-01-15 revision 6 Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Marine Environmental Data and Information Network otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Distribution by Celtic Array Ltd on a case by case basis Distribution by Celtic Array Ltd on a case by case basis 3700 eng biota environment inlandWaters oceans Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2014-09 creation Irish Sea ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 36E5 -5.0537 -3.6694 53.4913 53.9755 1998 2013 series Baseline data methodology Benthic Ecology Seabed communities from site specific surveys were described in accordance to the biotope classification published by Connor et al. (2004) wherever possible. The main classification levels of relevance to this study are the “biotope” and “the biotope complex”. Some published information that is based on the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) classification were also used. The primary data source for the seabed habitats and benthic communities of the Irish Sea zone was from the dedicated survey carried out in the summer of 2010 and based on circa 6 months of detailed acoustic survey (including sidescan and multibeam surveys) which was groundtruthed during August and September 2010 by an extensive series of camera (stills and video) and Day grab surveys. Dedicated 4m beam trawl surveys carried out in autumn 2010 (November) and spring 2011 from a commercial fishing vessel using commercial gear, and primarily targeting commercial fish species, were also able to provide some additional information on the main epibenthos. Considerable data from other sources was also used to extend knowledge outside of the Irish Sea Zone boundary. Baseline information on the Rhiannon Wind Farm was supplemented by an additional site specific survey carried out from 29th October to 30th November 2012 Intertidal Data from series of intertidal benthic surveys of the intertidal zone of the northern Anglesey coastline carried out between 1996 and 2004 by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) were used and in conjunction with information from further Phase I methodology site-specific surveys. Intertidal surveys at the five potential cable landfall sites within the Export Cable Area was completed in June 2013, they were completed during a period of spring tides at or around low water (ranging between 0.6m and 1.0m) to maximize the exposure of the lower shore areas. Surveys were completed on foot, Mapping and the sampling protocols followed the standard methodology described in Wyn et al. (2002) and JNCC (2010). Field notes, photographs, waypoints and boundaries were then used to identify biotopes present with reference to Connor et al. (2004). Updated biotope maps were produced for each cable landfall option using the most recent 04.05 classification (Connor et al. 2004). Fish and Shellfish Ecology Baseline information has been compiled during the various stages of the processes including the ZAP, scoping and PEI stages and through consultation. Data was collated from site-specific beam trawl surveys using 4m beam trawl, as part of the baseline survey programme within the Irish Sea Round 3 Zone (ISZ). Information from the ZAP surveys were reviewed along with the long term data sets from the Cefas ground fish surveys. Additional information were also obtained from Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (NI) relating to the trawls and egg surveys they complete throughout the Irish Sea. Information from Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and the ‘Sea Fishing Atlas of Wales’ were reviewed and information on migratory species and their stock status in the Irish Sea was collated from the Environment Agency (EA). Spawning and nursery ground information was collated from Coull et al. (1998) and Ellis et al. (2012). Information on commercial fish and shellfish stocks was informed from Chapter 13 of the Stage 2 PEI : Commercial Fisheries which used MMO and ICES landings data to inform the Assessment. Desk based study of available literature on these species was also done. Please note: Chapter 7 Physical processes and Chapter 10 Fish ecology (includes shellfish) within the Stage 2 PEI are closely linked to benthic ecology study. Also Inter-relationships exist with a number of other Chapters of the Stage 2 PEI and these are summarized in more detail later (see 9.425 of the report). Some relevant appendices should be read in conjunction with this report such as • Appendix 9.1 Rhiannon Wind Farm benthic survey 2012. • Appendix 9.2 Seastar Surveys (2013). Geophysical and environmental survey export cable area. Phase 2 – Volume 2. Environmental report revision 1 Final report 5th July 2013. • Appendix 9.3 Benthic ecology example sublittoral seabed photographs • Appendix 9.4 Report of an intertidal survey of potential cable landings off the North Anglesey coast. Report to Celtic Array Ltd. CMACS Ltd (2013a). Also chapters Chapter 9 – Benthic Ecology; Chapter 11 – Marine Mammals, sea turtles and basking shark; and Chapter 13 – Commercial Fisheries within the Stage 2 PEI are closely linked to Fish and Shellfish Ecology https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/details/2708/summary A link to the web service or dataset. https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk A link to the general host site.