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species. For some species, the area of interest is even wider, extending to the North Atlantic.


93.


The species diversity and abundance of marine mammals within the southern North Sea is relatively low and reduces progressively southwards (Sea Watch Foundation 2008). The most common and regularly occurring cetaceans are those species associated with relatively shallow continental seas, such as harbour porpoise and white-beaked dolphin. The species reports from the 3rd UK Habitats Directive reporting round (JNCC 2013) are used as an indicator for species whose range stretches throughout the East Anglia THREE offshore cable corridor and project area.


94.


The data presented by Reid et al. (2003), SCANS I (Hammond et al. 2002), SCANS II (Hammond et al. 2013) and JNCC (2013) confirm that seven marine mammal species occur regularly over large parts of the southern North Sea. These are grey seal, harbour seal, harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, killer whale and minke whale.


95.


Other species, including Atlantic white-sided dolphin, sperm whale and long-finned pilot whale are occasional visitors to the southern North Sea. The conservation status and best available population estimates for cetacean species are presented in Table 12.5.


96.


Species considered as only occasional visitors, defined by Reid et al. (2003) are not considered further in the description of the existing environment. Grey seal, harbour seal, harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, minke whale, bottlenose dolphin, killer whale and common dolphin are discussed in more detail below.


12.5.2 Pinnipeds 12.5.2.1 Grey seal 12.5.2.1.1Population size


97.


The geographical range of the grey seal is restricted to the Northern hemisphere. In the north east Atlantic, distribution is centred on breeding colonies in the UK (predominantly Scotland), Iceland, Norway, Ireland, and the Baltic.


98.


Grey seal breed annually when females come ashore to give birth on land or ice during which time the females fast. Within Europe there are two apparent reproductively isolated populations: the Baltic population which use sea ice to pup and a population that breeds outside the Baltic and pup on land.


Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014


East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm


Chapter 12 Marine Mammal Ecology Page 40


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