Draft Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Renewable Energy in Scottish Waters: Socio - Economic Assesment

Appendix C. Scoping and Assessment Results

C1. Aquaculture

C1.1 Scoping Results

The results of the scoping assessment are presented in Table C1.1 (Offshore Wind), Table C1.2 (Wave) and Table C1.3 (Tidal) and indicate whether more detailed assessment is required (Y/N).

Table C1.1 Offshore Wind

	North		North-East		South-West		West			North-West
	OWN1	OWN2	OWNE1	OWNE2	OWSW1	OWSW2	OWW1	OWW2	OWW3	OWNW1
Displacement of aquaculture activity	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Disturbance or injury to aquaculture species in production (underwater noise)	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N

Table C1.2 Wave

	North			West			North-West
	WN1	WN2	WN3	WW1	WW2	WW3	WNW1	WW4
Displacement of aquaculture activity	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Disturbance or injury to aquaculture species in production (underwater noise)	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N

Table C1.3 Tidal

	North							South-West	West
	TN1	TN2	TN3	TN4	TN5	TN6	TN7	TSW1	TW1	TW2
Displacement of aquaculture activity	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
Disturbance or injury to aquaculture species in production (underwater noise)	N	N	N	N	N	Y	N	N	N	N

C1.2 Assessment Results - Estimation of Costs and Benefits

C1.2.1 Displacement OF Aquaculture Activity

No current aquaculture sites were identified which might be displaced due to a Draft Plan Option area. However, based on consultation with the industry, it was noted that in the event that an aquaculture site was forced to relocate the cost could be over £1 million (Chris Webb, Meridian Salmon Farms Limited pers comm).

The conditions currently required for renewable developments to be effective are such that the aquaculture industry are unlikely to want to operate in the same areas, however, as aquaculture equipment gets stronger and turbines become more efficient there is a chance for increased overlap ( Chris Read, Marine Harvest Scotland Ltd pers comm). Offshore aquaculture could also become strategically important to the UK in the future due to a finite supply of available inshore sites which could cause conflict with wind developments (James and Slaski, 2006; Faber Maunsell Limited, 2008). However, success will be dependent on improved safety and technological development (Faber Maunsell Limited, 2008; Defra, 2008). It has also been proposed that offshore aquaculture and renewable developments could be co-managed in the same area (Chris Read , pers comm; Blyth-Skyrme, 2010 and Mee, 2006). This could provide an opportunity to share resources and could lead to greater spatial efficiency in the offshore environment (Michler-Cieluch, 2009).

The issue of tidal Draft Plan Option areas limiting access to aquaculture sites (which could increase steaming coats for vessels such as maintenance and feed delivery boats) was raised during consultation with stakeholders. However, further analysis identified no current sites where this might be an issue.

C1.2.2 Disturbance or Injury to Aquaculture Species in Production (Underwater Noise)

Only one Draft Plan Option area ( TN6 in the North SORER region) overlapped with shellfish and finfish aquaculture sites where there exists the potential for disturbance or injury to aquaculture species from underwater noise. However, given that these aquaculture sites (including a 2km noise buffer) only represents a small percentage of the TN6 Draft Plan Option area (approximately 3%) it is considered possible to locate the arrays within the Draft Plan Option area at a distance which would not produce unacceptable noise disturbance to aquaculture species. Based on current scientific knowledge, it is unlikely that shellfish would be significantly affected by intense underwater noise, even if they were located within 2km of an offshore renewables development.

C1.2.3 Summary

No current aquaculture sites were identified which might be displaced due to a Draft Plan Option area, however, it is possible that displacement might occur in the future as aquaculture equipment gets stronger and turbines become more efficient. Only one Draft Plan Option area ( TN6 in the North SORER region) overlapped with shellfish and finfish aquaculture sites where there exists the potential for disturbance or injury to aquaculture species from underwater noise. However, with spatial planning it is considered possible to locate the arrays within the Draft Plan Option areas at a distance which would not produce unacceptable noise disturbance to aquaculture species. Economic impacts to the Aquaculture sector from the Draft Plan Option areas are therefore expected to be negligible.

C1.3 References

Baxter, J.M., Boyd, I.L., Cox, M., Donald, A.E., Malcolm, S.J., Miles, H., Miller, B., Moffat, C.F., (Editors), 2011. Scotland's Marine Atlas: Information for the national marine plan. Marine Scotland, Edinburgh.

Blyth-Skyrme, R.E., 2010. Options and opportunities for marine fisheries mitigation associated with windfarms. Final report for Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into the Environment contract FISHMITIG09. COWRIE Ltd, London. 125 pp.

Defra. 2008. The United Kingdom operational program for the European Fisheries Fund (2007-2013).

Faber Maunsell Limited, 2008. Scottish Marine Bill Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA): Environmental Report ( ER). Scottish Government.

FAO, 2010. The state of world fisheries and aquaculture.

IECS, 2007. The River Humber (Upper Burcom Tidal Stream Generator) Order. Environmental Statement, Final Draft. October 2007. A report produced by the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies, University of Hull.

Marine Scotland, 2011. Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2010. Published by Marine Scotland, The Scottish Government, September 2011 DPPAS11957 (08/11). 92pp

Mee, L., 2006. Complementary Benefits of Alternative Energy: Suitability of Offshore Wind Farms as Aquaculture Sites SEAFISH - Project Ref: 10517, April 2006

Michler-Cieluch, T; Gesche, K and Buck B. 2009. Marine Aquaculture within Offshore OWF's: Social Aspects of Multiple-Use Planning. GAIA-Ecological perspectives for science and society 18 158-162.

Pugh, D. 2008. Socio-economic indicators of marine-related activities in the UK economy. The Crown Estate

Scottish Government, 2010. Delivering Planning Reform for Aquaculture

SSPO, 2010. Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation Annual Report. Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation Limited. 12pp.

SSPO 2012. Scottish Salmon Farming. Industry Research Report. Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation Limited, April 2012. 12pp.

Thomsen F., Lüdemann K., Kafemann R., Piper W., 2006. Effects of offshore wind farm noise on marine mammals and fish. Biola, Hamburg, Germany on behalf of COWRIE Ltd. 62pp.

Nedwell, J. and Howell, D., 2004. A review of offshore wind farm related underwater noise sources. Report No. 544 R 0308.