4e1754ac-4ba2-4ef3-adba-089b52f53bf8 English series series 2026-09-10T12:36:23 MEDIN 3.1.2 biota oceans Fish abundance in water bodies SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Fish behaviour SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Consenting The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Phases 2012-05-15 revision Zone search area The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Areas 2012-05-15 revision Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2009-07-31 revision SeaDataNet sea areas 2012-11-07 revision North Sea SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2020-05-21 revision water column 2013-02-17T00:00:00 2013-03-19T23:59:59 -3.217783 -2.569726 58.003955 58.322968 CES-352 Marine Data Exchange 2013, Brown and May Marine, Zone 1 - Moray Firth, Cod Survey Cod Survey 2026-09-10T12:36:23 publication English The North Sea cod stock is assessed as a single unit however there is evidence of sub-stock structuring (Fox et al 2008, ICES 2007). The Moray Firth cod stock is reproductively isolated from other North Sea stocks. Spawning grounds for this species have been defined in the area of the MORL development (i.e. Coull et al 1998, Ellis et al 2010) however the degree of spawning activity currently taking place in this area is unknown. The objective of this survey was to determine whether significant cod spawning currently takes place in the area of the Moray Firth Round 3 and its vicinity. The survey was carried out in two trips between 17th February and 19th March 2013 (Trip A from 17th February to 26th February and Trip B from 10th March to 19th March) coinciding with the peak spawning season. Sampling was undertaking using a commercial rock-hopper otter trawl with a 120 mm mesh cod end, fitted with a 20 mm blinder (provided by Marine Scotland Science, hereinafter referred to as MSS). 56 tows of 30 minutes duration were undertaken within and adjacent to the MORL Round 3 Area to cover areas of the cod spawning grounds defined by Coull et al 1998 where noise levels at which cod may exhibit strong avoidance reactions during the construction phase may occur (90dBht (Gadus morhua) level). Two tows of 60 minutes duration were also carried at the request of MSS to determine whether larger cod were out-swimming the net in the 30 minute tows. The catch from each otter trawl was emptied into the hopper, photographed, and sorted into baskets by species. The length, sex and spawning condition of all cod was identified and recorded. The gonads of each individual were photographed. There will be no limitations when published on the Marine Data Exchange otherRestrictions Data Must be used in accordance to the Marine Data Exchange's Terms of Use: https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/content/info/terms-of-use otherRestrictions Crown Estate Scotland +44 (0)131 260 6070 enquiries@crownestatescotland.com custodian Brown & May Marine Ltd. 01379 870181 marine@brownmay.com originator Crown Estate Scotland +44 (0)131 260 6070 enquiries@crownestatescotland.com distributor Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd info@morayoffshorerenewables.co.uk owner notPlanned Delimited Documents Geographic Information System Image https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/details/CES-352/summary A link to the web service or dataset. https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk A link to the general host site. Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08T00:00:00 publication Conformity with the Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 was either not relevant to this dataset or not a requirement of the Marine Data Exchange for the creation and submission of this dataset; therefore, conformity has not been assessed and cannot be declared False series The survey was undertaken between 17th February and 19th March 2013 in order to cover the peak spawning period of this species. As previously mentioned cod spawning occurs between January and April, with peak spawning taking place from February to March. Two sampling trips were undertaken: Trip A from 17th February to 26th February and Trip B from 10th March to 19th March. During these, a total of 58 stations were sampled using a commercial rock-hopper otter trawl with a 120 mm mesh cod end, fitted with a 20 mm blinder. A summarised log of events is given in Section 7.2- Appendix 2. The sampling stations were located within the Moray Firth Round 3 Area and at adjacent locations overlapping both the cod spawning grounds defined in Coull et al 1998 and areas expected to be affected by piling noise during the construction phase at the 90dBht1(Gadus morhua) level). The noise impact ranges used for selection of sampling stations are as presented in MORL’s Offshore Generating Station Impact Assessment (Chapter 7.2 - Biological Environment). Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd info@morayoffshorerenewables.co.uk pointOfContact EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2022-12-12 revision WGS 84 / UTM zone 30N