APEM Ltd – EAOW Wintering Bird Surveys: Final Report 411732 4.3 Potential impacts and consenting risks


Disturbance and/or displacement of bird species from feeding and roosting habitat during cable laying is likely to pose the main consenting issue. Loss of habitat is also likely to be a key consenting issue. This will be most applicable to avocets and dark-bellied brent geese, during the winter period, since the Deben Estuary SPA and Ramsar site is designated for wintering populations of these species. These potential impacts will be most relevant if activities occur in a location used most by birds during this peak period. The location of the first cable crossing point across the Deben (from Ramsholt Marshes to Falkenham Marshes) has been chosen specifically to avoid areas of saltmarsh, which is recognised as an important habitat. The location of the second cable crossing point is through Martlesham Creek. The cable crossing path through Martlesham Creek avoids the main roosting locations for wading birds and waterfowl that were found towards the westernmost end of the creek itself.


Sectors BX003 and BX005 overlap with the possible location of the cable laying area. Peak numbers of avocets in these sectors occurred in January (n=113) and December (n=62), respectively. These peaks equate to 8.89% and 4.89% of the GB wintering population. Peak avocet numbers in Sector BX003 during January 2012 exceeded the 1% national (GB) wintering threshold of 75 individuals (Holt et al. 2011), but peak numbers in Sector BX005 during December 2011 did not (n=62). Avocets in these sectors did not exceed the 1% international wintering threshold of 730 individuals in any month during winter 2011/121. Peak numbers of dark-bellied brent geese in Sectors BX003 and BX005 occurred in January (n=391) and November (n=400) respectively, equating to 0.37% and 0.38% of the GB wintering population. Peak numbers of dark-bellied brent geese in Sector BX003 during January 2012 and Sector BX005 did not exceed the 1% national (GB) wintering threshold of 910 individuals (Holt et al. 2011), or the 1% international wintering threshold of 2,000 individuals (Holt et al. 2011). The preferred crossing point is approximately 500 m from the primary roosting locations for avocet and a minimum of 300 m from the main foraging area for avocet, so any disturbance to these species is expected to be minimal.


If the cable laying equipment is to be brought to the laying site up the Deben Estuary from the coast by barge, then disturbance and displacement of birds may also occur at other sectors along the planned route. Sectors affected would include Sectors 9, BX001, BX002 and BX004, in addition to sectors BX003 and BX005. The highest number of dark-bellied brent geese in this area occurred in Sector BX004 in February 2012 when at total of 2,150 individuals were recorded, equating to 2.08% of the GB wintering population and exceeding the international wintering threshold of 2,000 individuals (Holt et al. 2011). The highest number of avocets in this area occurred in Sector 9 in October 2011 when a total of 325 birds were recorded, equating to 25.6% of the GB wintering population, exceeding the 1% national (GB) wintering threshold but not the 1% international threshold of 730 individuals (Holt et al. 2011). However, as regular movements of vessels occur along the Deben, any additional traffic will not represent a significant increase to the level of disturbance on roosting and/or foraging areas for avocets, dark-bellied brent geese or any other bird species.


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October 2012 – Final


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