28. No transboundary impacts were identified.


30.2.6 Chapter 12 Marine Mammal Ecology 29.


Site specific surveys recorded very low numbers of marine mammals, such that only three species occurred in numbers sufficient to justify assessment. The species assessed were the cetacean harbour porpoise and the pinnipeds harbour and grey seal. The impact assessment required consideration of the underwater noise, fish and shellfish ecology and shipping and navigation assessments.


30.


At a project level the impacts from East Anglia THREE are assessed as minor adverse at worst for all three species. The conclusions of the assessment are largely a reflection of the area being used relatively little by marine mammals.


31.


The proposed East Anglia THREE project has a very limited contribution to the cumulative impact from underwater noise upon harbour porpoise, harbour seal and grey seal, due to the very low densities of these species in the East Anglia THREE site and offshore cable corridor. However, it should be noted that there are potential significant cumulative impacts from underwater noise (from offshore windfarms and other industry) at the UK level.


32. Due to the highly mobile nature of the marine mammals considered in this assessment there are potential transboundary impacts for each receptor. These are discussed in the assessment chapter..


30.2.7 Chapter 13 Offshore Ornithology 33.


Site specific surveys were undertaken to define the potential impacts upon offshore ornithological receptors. Further details are of this are available within the PEIR chapter. The impact assessment required consideration of the benthic and fish and shellfish ecology assessments.


34.


All birds observed within the site-specific surveys have been assessed with regards to their nature conservation value. Those that reached the 1% regional, national or international importance thresholds in at least one biological season have been taken through to the impact assessment section. In addition, the three large gull species have been assessed (lesser black-backed gull, herring gull and great black- backed gull), as these are considered to have locally important abundances within the East Anglia THREE site.


35. During the construction phase of the proposed project no impacts have been assessed to be greater than minor adverse significance for any bird species.


Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014


East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm


Chapter 30 Summary and Conclusion Page 9


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