Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil

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Sharks, Rays and Skates 3 ‐ 24 Balloch Field Development Environmental Statement Section 3 Baseline Environment Due to their slow growth rates, and hence delayed maturity and relatively low reproductive rates, sharks, rays and skates (all members of the class Chondrichthyes) tend to be vulnerable to anthropogenic activities. Historically, Chondrichthyes species (specifically common skate, long‐nose skate and angle shark) have been targeted by commercial fisheries and overfishing has significantly depleted the numbers in the North Sea. More recently, they tend to be taken as bycatch to such as extent that stocks are still depleting in UK waters. Work is underway to develop National Plans of Action for the conservation and management of Chondrichthyes. Species identified as being in need of immediate protection are the angle shark, common skate, longnose skate, Norwegian skate and white skate. It has been proposed to protect these species in UK waters in the same way as the basking shark is protected, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). The distribution of Chondrichthyes in the UKCS is not extensively documented. However, available literature (Ellis et al., 2004) suggests that at least five species are present in the CNS: Squalus acanthias (spiny dogfish); Galeorhinus galeus (tope shark); Amblyraja radiate (commonly known as the thorny skate or starry ray); Leucoraja naevus (cuckoo ray); Scyliorhinus canicula (commonly known as the lesser spotted dogfish). Total numbers recorded for each of these species are low (Ellis et al., 2004). 3.6.4. SEABIRDS Seabirds are generally not at risk from routine offshore production operations. However, they may be vulnerable to pollution from less regular offshore activities such as well testing and flaring, when hydrocarbon dropout to the sea surface can occasionally occur, or from discharges such as oil spills. Birds are vulnerable to oily surface pollution, which can cause direct toxicity through ingestion and hypothermia as a result of the birds’ inability to waterproof their feathers. Birds are most vulnerable in the post‐breeding season when they become flightless during periods of moult, thus spending large amounts of time on the water surface. This significantly increases their vulnerability to oil spills. Fulmars, guillemots and puffins are particularly vulnerable to surface pollutants as they spend the majority of their time on the surface of the water. Herring gulls, kittiwakes and great black‐backed gulls are less vulnerable as they spend a larger proportion of their time flying and therefore less time on the sea surface (Stone et al., 1995). After the breeding season ends in June, large numbers of moulting auks (guillemots, razorbills and puffins) disperse from their coastal colonies and into offshore waters. At this time, high numbers of birds are particularly vulnerable to oil pollution. JNCC have produced an Offshore Vulnerability Index (OVI) for seabirds encountered within each offshore licence block within the Southern, Central and Northern North Sea and the Irish Sea. For each block, an index of vulnerability for all species is given which considers the following four factors: the amount of time spent on the water; total biogeographical population; reliance on the marine environment; potential rate of population recovery. Each of these factors is weighted according to its biological importance and the OVI is then derived (Williams et al., 1994). The OVI of seabirds within each offshore licence block changes throughout the year. This is due to seasonal fluctuations in the species and number of birds present in an area. The monthly OVI of Block 15/20 and its surrounding blocks is provided in Table 3‐12 and in Figure 3‐13 and Figure 3‐14. The overall vulnerability of Block 15/20 and its surrounding blocks is provided in Figure 3‐15.
Balloch Field Development Environmental Statement Section 3 Baseline Environment Table 3‐12 Monthly vulnerability of seabirds in the area of the Balloch field development (JNCC, 1999). Block OVI (monthly) J F M A M J J A S O N D All 15/14 3 3 4 3 4 4 2 3 2 1 3 15/15 2 2 4 3 4 4 2 3 2 1 3 16/11 2 2 4 4 4 2 3 2 1 3 15/19 3 3 4 3 4 4 2 3 2 1 3 15/20 2 2 4 2 4 4 2 2 2 1 3 16/16 2 2 4 2 4 4 2 2 2 1 3 15/24 3 3 4 3 4 4 2 2 3 1 1 3 15/25 2 2 4 2 3 4 2 2 3 1 1 3 16/21 2 2 4 2 3 4 2 2 3 2 1 3 Key 1= Very high 2= High 3= Moderate 4= Low Blank = No data Seabird vulnerability to oil pollution in the development block and the surrounding area is moderate overall. This varies throughout the year and is highest in November. Generally, seabird vulnerability decreases in offshore waters following the winter period when large numbers of seabirds leave the offshore waters and return to their coastal colonies for the breeding season. Species commonly found in and around this area include fulmars, gannets, shags, herring gulls, kittiwakes, arctic terns, guillemots, razorbills, black guillemots and puffins. Other species which are present but recorded in lower numbers include cormorants, arctic and great skuas, black headed gulls, common gulls, and greater and lesser black‐backed gulls (Stone et al., 1995). Figure 3‐13 Seabird Offshore Vulnerability Index during January to June (JNCC, 1999). 3 ‐ 25
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B ‐ 2 Halocarbon release during e
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B ‐ 4 Lube and hydraulic oil spil
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Discharges to Sea Discharge from pi
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Production Phase Environmental Aspe
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B ‐ 10 Drainage water Discharge o
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Physical presence Oil and gas infra
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Major accidental events Other envir
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Environmental Statement - Maersk Oil

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