ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BARDOLINO DEVELOPMENT

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Bardolino Development Environmental Statement factor likely to influence cetacean distribution is the availability of prey, mainly fish, plankton and cephalopods (Stone, 1997). Minke whales, white-beaked and white-sided dolphins, and harbour porpoises may occur regularly in the northern-central North Sea (Table 4.13). Killer, long-finned, pilot and sperm whales, and common, striped, Risso’s and bottlenose dolphins, are less frequently sighted in the northern-central North Sea. Other species, including northern bottlenose, Sowerby’s beaked, and fin and humpback whales, are encountered very infrequently (Hammond et al., 2002; Northridge et al., 1995; Reid et al., 2003; SMRU, 2001; Stone 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003a and b; UKDMAP, 1998). Table 4.13 Sightings of cetaceans within Quadrant 22 and surrounding quadrants [Months in yellow indicate the proposed development schedule] Species J F M A M J J A S O N D Harbour porpoise White-beaked dolphin Minke whale White-sided dolphin Killer whale Common dolphin Source: UKDMAP (1998) Present within Quadrant 22 Present in surrounding Quadrants The harbour porpoise is the commonest cetacean in the North Sea (see Section 4.3.2). Highest densities in summer are found north of 56ºN, mostly in a north-south band between 1ºE and 3°E. During the SCANS survey in the summer of 1994 there were an estimated 268,000 porpoises in the North Sea. The northern and central areas of the North Sea appear to be important areas for harbour porpoises, especially in summer (SMRU, 2001). White-beaked dolphins are distributed over the continental shelf, and in the North Sea they tend to be more numerous within about 200 nm of the Scottish and north-eastern English coasts (Northridge et al., 1995). The abundance of white-beaked dolphins in the North Sea areas during the SCANS survey in the summer of 1994 was 7,856 (95% confidence interval 4,000–13,300). This estimate includes shelf waters to the west of Shetland and Orkney (Hammond et al., 2002). White-beaked dolphins are present throughout the year in the North Sea, with most sightings recorded between June and October (Reid et al., 2003). Minke whales occur throughout the central and northern North Sea, particularly during the summer months (SMRU, 2001). There is no direct evidence that minke whales in the Northern Hemisphere migrate, but in some areas there appear to be shifts in latitudinal abundance with season (SMRU, 2001). This is true for the North Sea, where minke whales appear to move into the North Sea at the beginning of May and are present throughout the summer until October (Northridge et al., 1995). The estimated summer abundance of minke whales in North Sea areas during the SCANS 1994 survey was 7,200 (approximate 95% confidence interval 4,700 – 11,000). This estimate includes shelf waters to the west of Shetland and Orkney (Hammond et al., 2002). During the SCANS survey, the highest densities were recorded in the northwest North Sea, particularly off the mainland coast of Scotland (SMRU, 2001). It is apparent that the central and northern SEA-2 areas are important for minke whales in summer (SMRU, 2001). Killer whales have been observed throughout the northern North Sea in most months (SMRU, 2001; Reid et al., 2003). Between Shetland and Norway, the species has been regularly recorded from November to March (Reid et al., 2003). Seasonal movements may be associated with particular prey, including seals and herring (Reid et al. 2003). An association of killer whales with oil platforms has been reported (SMRU, 2001). The Atlantic white-sided dolphin is primarily an offshore species but has been recorded during a number of surveys in the North Sea, especially during summer (Northridge et al., 1997; Reid et al., 2003). It shares most of its range with the white-beaked dolphin, but in the eastern North Atlantic it has a mainly offshore distribution and is consequently rarer than white-beaked dolphin over shelf waters (SMRU, 2001). Its presence in the North Sea is Page 4-28 April 2008
Bardolino Development Environmental Statement seasonal, with the majority of sightings recorded between May and September (SMRU, 2001). In the North Sea, bottlenose dolphins are occasionally sighted outside coastal waters. Individuals from the resident population in the Moray Firth are known to range widely along the east coast of Scotland (Wilson et al., 2004) and they may also move off-shore during the winter (SMRU, 2001; see Section 4.3.2). Sightings of Risso’s dolphins in the northern North Sea are mainly between July and August, although some animals are present off north-east Scotland and Shetland in winter (Reid et al. 2003). Common dolphins are occasionally sighted in the North Sea, also mainly in summer (June to September) (Reid et al., 2003). Common dolphins are generally found in oceanic and shelf-edge waters, but do occasionally use coastal waters. Striped dolphins are generally rare in UK waters, although they have been observed in the North Sea (Reid et al., 2003; Stone, 2001). Most records of pilot whales around the UK are from waters greater than 200 m deep, with relatively few occurrences in the shallower waters of the North Sea. Incidental sightings of pilot whales in the North Sea do, however, appear to be more numerous between November and January (Reid et al., 2003). Sperm whales are normally distributed to the west and north of the UK on, and beyond, the continental shelf break. They have also been recorded fairly regularly in waters around the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands, with sightings and strandings reported in most months (SMRU, 2001). Several sightings and strandings have been recorded from the North Sea in the last decade. Males migrate to high latitudes to feed and, as a result, all sperm whales sighted or stranded in the North Sea to date have been males (SMRU, 2001). All cetacean species are listed in Annex IV of the EC Habitats Directive, which protects them from any deliberate disturbance, particularly during the periods of breeding and migration. Pinnipeds (seals) Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are one of the most widespread pinniped species and are found in all coastal waters around the North Sea. A minimum population estimate in the North Sea is 38,000 and this represents just over half the estimated population of the Northeast Atlantic subspecies (SMRU, 2001). Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are restricted to the North Atlantic and the total population is approximately 300,000 animals. The population in the northeast Atlantic has been increasing at around 6 % annually since the 1960’s; its current size is estimated at around 130,000- 140,000 individuals, of which approximately 70,000 are associated with breeding colonies in the North Sea (SMRU, 2001). Grey and harbour seals are resident in UK waters and occur regularly over large parts of the North Sea (Stone, 2001; SMRU, 2001). Both species breed in the UK, with common seals pupping in June / July and grey seals pupping between September and December. British populations of grey and common seals represent approximately 40% and 5%, respectively, of the world populations of these species (SMRU, 2001). Both species are found along the UK coastline but there are few data available on the distribution and abundance of seals when offshore (see Section 4.3.2). Tracking of seals suggests they make feeding trips lasting 2 to 3 days, travelling less than 40 km from their haul-out sites, and with the animal ultimately returning to the same haul-out site from which it departed (JNCC, 2002). Grey seals may spend more time further offshore than common seals. The Bardolino development is over 185 km from the UK coastline; so it is unlikely that grey and common seals would be found regularly in the vicinity of the proposed development. Grey and harbour seals are listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (Section 4.3.2). 4.4.5 Seabirds Seabirds are not normally affected by offshore oil and gas operations (DTI, 2001). Birds are vulnerable to oiling from surface oil pollution, which can cause direct toxicity through ingestion, and hypothermia as a result of the birds’ inability to waterproof their feathers. April 2008 Page 4-29
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13 th March 2008 Dear Sir or Madam,
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To: Paul Wood Shell U.K Limited, Se
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What risks to marine mammals do pil
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Noise propagation modelling. Noise
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If, for any reason, piling operatio
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APPPENDIX 1 MARINE MAMMAL RECORDING
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ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT BARDOLINO DEVELOPMENT

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