343. In addition, post-construction and installation sea bed surveys, and if necessary the appropriate sea bed rectification measures, would be undertaken to ensure sea bed conditions are returned to an acceptable standard. Any sea bed obstructions and spoil identified during post-installation surveying which might represent a hazard to fishing, such as trenching berms, would be rectified.
344. Provided there is compliance to obligatory standards by contractors, the impact is considered to be within acceptable limits.
14.6.2.6 Impact 6: Interference with Fishing Activities 345. As mentioned previously, all of the potential impacts included in this assessment could cause interference to fishing activities.
346. Activity by operation works vessels is estimated to be less than that occurring during the construction phase. Furthermore, it is considered that codes of conduct between works vessels and fishing vessels would be well established by the completion of construction activities, irrespective of the port used.
347. The magnitude of effect depends upon the location of the operation and maintenance port, which at the current time is unknown. As a result, a conservative assumption has been made that transit routes could be in the vicinity of static and towed gear grounds. Transiting East Anglia THREE works vessels will also fully comply with the international regulations (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)) to negate the requirement for fishing vessels engaged in fishing to alter course or to pose any risk to fishing gears being towed. It is also of note that the commission Regulation (EEC) No. 365/2005 states the surface marker buoy specifications required when outside of the 12nm limit to ensure static and passive fishing gear is visible for 2nm. The surface marker buoy specifications include a radar reflector, yellow flashing lights, luminous bands and flags. Therefore, assuming local fishermen adhere to the surface marker buoy specifications as set out in commission Regulation (EEC) No. 365/2005, interference with static or passive gear outside of the 12nm limit should be minimal. The magnitude of the effect for vessels towing gear is therefore expected to be negligible, and for static gear and drift netting is considered to be low. Within the 12nm limit, it is also reasonable to assume that if fishermen wish to avoid their static gears or drift nets being fouled by any transiting vessels, their surface marker buoys will be clearly visible during daylight and hours of darkness.
348. Taking into account the mobility of towed gear vessels targeting the fisheries in the vicinity of the proposed East Anglia THREE project, their sensitivity is considered to be low. Recognising the static nature of the potting, netting and longlining fisheries,
Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014
East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm
Chapter 14 Commercial Fisheries Page 105
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