Highly Protected Marine Areas - policy framework and site selection guidelines: socio-economic impact assessment – methodology

This initial socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) identifies and assesses potential economic and social effects of HPMAs and proposes a methodology for carrying out the site specific SEIAs.


4 Scoping of Impacts

4.1 Outline scoping

4.1.1 For the purpose of this initial scoping and methodology report, the human activities referred to above (Section 3) and in the Marine Scotland Directorate HPMA Policy Framework, are incorporated and considered under specific marine sectors. It is likely that each human activity will be relevant to multiple marine sectors, and therefore, their impacts are scoped accordingly. Definitions of each sector are provided in Appendix B.

4.1.2 A high-level summary of the outcome of initial scoping is provided in Table 1, and details of the scoping of individual impact pathways for each sector is provided in Appendix A. The initial scoping will be reviewed and refined in light of the specific HPMA proposals.

4.1.3 Aviation was scoped out of the baseline assessment on the basis that no management measures would be required for this sector. Marine aggregates has also been scoped out as there are no current marine aggregate licences or licence applications in Scottish waters. Wild seaweed harvesting has been scoped out because this predominantly occurs above mean low water springs (MLWS) and therefore would be outside of HPMAs.

4.1.4 In addition to whether each sector has been scoped in or out, Table 1 also provides high-level commentary on:

  • Type(s) of impact, and whether a priori impacts are anticipated to be low, medium or high (although this can only be quantified once the assessment of proposed sites has been undertaken);
  • Risk of upstream and downstream effects (i.e. cost impact only, or GVA impact);
  • Potential for displacement of activity to other areas.

4.1.5 Note there is potential overlap with the ecosystem services analysis for coastal defence, fisheries and recreational (recreational fishing, tourism and water sports) impacts.

Table 1 Outcome of Initial Scoping

Sector

Aquaculture (finfish)

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with existing or proposed aquaculture sites

Types of impact
  • Removal/ relocation of sites
  • Additional licensing costs
  • Opportunity costs
Anticipated scale of impact

High

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

Yes

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Aquaculture (shellfish and seaweed)

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with existing or proposed aquaculture sites

Types of impact
  • Removal/ relocation of sites
  • Additional licensing costs
  • Opportunity costs
Anticipated scale of impact

High

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

Yes

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Aviation

Scoped in?

No

Comment

No management would be required for this sector

Sector

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with potential CCUS locations

Types of impact
  • Additional licensing costs
  • Deviation of new pipelines
  • Opportunity costs
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Coast Protection and Flood Defence

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with coastal protection and flood defence measures if HPMAs are in inshore area

Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

No

Sector

Commercial Fisheries

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with commercial fishing activity

Types of impact
  • Loss of fishing grounds
  • Minimal speed requirement
  • Restriction on fixed engines and net and coble fisheries
Anticipated scale of impact

High

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

Yes

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Energy Generation

Scoped in?

Yes

Types of impact
  • Additional licensing costs
  • Deviation of new cable routes
  • Additional mitigation costs
  • Opportunity Costs
Anticipated scale of impact

Medium

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes (cables)

Sector

Marine Aggregate Extraction

Scoped in?

No

Comment

No current marine aggregate licences or licence applications in Scottish waters

Sector

Military and Defence

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap of danger areas and practice and exercise areas

Types of impact
  • Revision of MESA
  • Compliance with MESAT revisions
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

No

Sector

Oil and Gas

Scoped in?

Yes

Types of impact
  • Additional licensing costs
  • Deviation of new pipelines
  • Additional costs for repairs and maintenance and decommissioning
  • Opportunity costs
Anticipated scale of impact

Medium

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes (pipelines)

Sector

Ports and Harbours

Scoped in?

Yes

Anticipated scale of impact

Low-Medium

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Power Interconnectors

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with future interconnectors

Types of impact
  • Additional assessment costs
  • Deviation of new cable routes
Anticipated scale of impact

Low-Medium

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Recreational Fishing

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with recreational fishing activities

Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Recreational Boating

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with marinas and anchorages

Types of impact
  • Vessel speed restrictions
  • Restrictions on anchoring
  • Vessel number restrictions
  • Additional licensing costs for marinas
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Seabed mining

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

No seabed mining activity currently, but potential management may preclude future activity of the sector in Scottish waters.

Types of impact
  • Additional costs for marine license determinations
  • Opportunity cost
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Wild Seaweed harvesting

Scoped in?

No

Comment

Seaweed harvesting takes place above MLWS therefore no potential overlap.

Sector

Shipping

Scoped in?

Yes

Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

No

Sector

Telecom Cables

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with future telecom cable routes

Types of impact
  • Additional licensing costs (new cables in relation to lifeline services)
  • Deviation of new cable routes
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes

Sector

Tourism (including heritage assets)

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with wildlife watching areas

Types of impact
  • Vessel speed restrictions
  • Restrictions on numbers
  • Comply with codes of practice
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes (if restrictions on numbers)

Sector

Water sports

Scoped in?

Yes

Comment

Potential overlap with water sports areas

Types of impact
  • Vessel speed restrictions
  • Restrictions on numbers
Anticipated scale of impact

Low

Risk of upstream and downstream effects

No

Potential for displacement of activity to other areas

Yes (if restrictions on numbers)

Contact

Email: HPMA@gov.scot

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