f606bdc7-b164-4f1e-81c1-b8bb12152c3c English series series 2026-10-06T09:01:27 MEDIN 3.1.2 biota oceans Cetacean reproduction SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Cetacean behaviour SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Seal behaviour SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Seal abundance SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Cetacean abundance SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2026-06-19 revision Consenting The Crown Estate Renewable Energy Development Phases 2012-05-15 revision Agreement for Lease 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 unknown 2010-05-01T00:00:00 2011-11-01T23:59:59 -2.714503 -1.488521 56.481829 56.677553 CES-400 Marine Data Exchange 2011, ECON, Zone 2 Firth of Forth, North Sea Offshore Boat Based Mammal Survey 2026-03-02T17:35:01 publication English ECON Ecology Ltd were contracted by Seagreen to design and carry out boat based visual surveys of the area for marine mammals and SMRU Ltd were contracted to analyse the marine mammal data from these surveys (May 2010-November 2011). Nineteen months of boat-based surveys for marine mammals have been carried out by ECON Ecology. SMRU Ltd were contracted to analyse the marine mammal data from these surveys. This report presents data on the encounter rate and distribution of sightings of marine mammals from the 19 surveys which took place between May 2010 and November 2011. 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 Dr Martin Perrow ECON Ecological Consultancy Ltd Director e.skeate@econ-ecology.com originator Crown Estate Scotland +44 (0)131 260 6070 enquiries@crownestatescotland.com distributor Seagreen derrick.thirlwell@fluor.com owner notPlanned Delimited https://www.marinedataexchange.co.uk/details/CES-400/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 methodology broadly followed the recommendations set out by Diederichs et al. (2008) for ship-based transect line distance sampling. The main boat used for the survey work was the MV Clupea, a 32 m ex-fisheries research services vessel, operated by IDP, a commercial survey company (Figure 2).The ship platform was stable and the eye-level of the observer was approximately 5 m above sea surface. The ship moved at a speed of approximately 10 knots (5 to 15 knots). One dedicated JNCC-trained observer continuously scanned the area between the boat and the horizon, 90 degrees to each side of the front of the vessel (total range of 180 degrees) with binoculars and naked eye. Every effort was made to ensure that the marine mammal survey was carried out in the most optimal sea conditions available in any single month. Whilst it was not possible to ensure that all days are of sea state 3 or below, the minimum visibility was always over 200m. In accordance with the JNCC standard methods, each sighting was recorded with location (latitude and longitude), time when first observed and time when sighting ended, species, number of animals observed, number of calves/pups, distance from the boat, and bearing and direction of movement. In addition, every sighting record includes identification features, behaviour and other observations (e.g. sex of seals, associations with seabirds etc.). Location of the boat and time during the sighting was recorded instantly using a GPS device. Range is estimated using a range-finder stick and bearing was read from a compass in-built into the GPS device. Field identification of marine mammals was based on the appearance (e.g. dorsal fin, tail fluke, sequence of body parts visible when surfacing, general shape, size and proportions and body markings in cetaceans; shape of head and snout, proportions of facial features in seals) and the behaviour of animals. Detailed observations of marine mammal behaviour and interaction with other mammals and seabirds were recorded according to COWRIE guidelines (Camphuysen et al., 2004). Behaviour was broadly classed into the following: directional swimming (with direction), non-directional swimming, rapid swimming near the surface and resting at the surface (after Diederichs et al., 2008). Additional data recorded continuously during the survey include depth, boat speed, sea state, wind force, wind speed, visibility, glare, precipitation and cloud cover. The numbers of sightings and individuals of each species during each monthly survey were calculated from the data provided by ECON (the file “FoF MMO MAMMALS MASTER.xls” supplied to SMRU Ltd by Christopher Houston of Seagreen on the 19th December 2011. Derrick Thirlwell Seagreen GIS Manager derrick.thirlwell@fluor.com pointOfContact EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2022-12-12 revision WGS 84 / UTM zone 31N