289. Based on the findings of Chapter 11 Fish and Shellfish Ecology, it is therefore expected that any indirect effect on catch rates in the relevant commercial fisheries for these species would also not exceedminor adverse significance.


14.6.2.2 Impact 2: Complete Loss or Restricted Access to Traditional Fishing Grounds 290. Existing legislation does not prevent fishing from occurring within operational windfarm sites. It is therefore assumed that there is the potential for fishing to resume within the East Anglia THREE site once the construction phase is completed. It is however noted that the skippers may elect not to fish within the operational East Anglia THREE site if judged impractical or unsafe to do so. The impact on certain individual vessels may therefore be higher than that identified for the fleet as a whole.


291. EN-3 states that “the footprint of the offshore windfarm and any associated infrastructure may be a hindrance to certain types of fishing activity such as trawling and long-lining.” Although not stated within the EN3 guidance, offshore windfarms and associated infrastructure may also hinder or preclude the use of other methods such as drift netting and seine netting.


292. The worst case scenario in terms of operational infrastructure is presented in Table 11.2. This would include the presence of a combined total of 180 structures with a minimum spacing of 675m x 900m between wind turbines. Vessels are known to fish within operational windfarm sites which have smaller or similar spacing between wind turbines (Plate 14.1- Plate 14.2) In addition, it was stated by the skippers of Dutch beam trawlers that assuming spacing of at least 675m and a linear arrangement of turbines, it would be possible to fish within the East Anglia ONE windfarm site in safe conditions (East Anglia ONE Statement of Common Ground VisNed and NFFO July 2013).


293. Once operational the offshore export cables and inter-array cables would be buried to depth of between 0.5m to 5m. Where sea bed conditions prevent cable burial, cables will be protected by one or a combination of the following methods: concrete mattresses, fronded concrete mattresses, rock dumping, bridging or positioning of gravel bags. The impact assessment in relation to this issue assumes a worst case of (Table 11.2) cable protection measures being required along


 


Up to 10% of the length of the inter-array cables;


Up to 10% of the length of the export cables at, or east of, the cable crossings with the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farms and Galloper Wind Farm.


Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014


East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm


Chapter 14 Commercial Fisheries Page 95


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