5.2.3.3 Grey seal 101. For grey seal, the initial screening process considered SACs and SCIs where the species is a grade A, B or C feature and that site is within a specific range of the East Anglia THREE site.
102. In the case of grey seal, regular foraging and dispersal between winter breeding sites, and summer foraging and haul out sites can be much greater than in harbour seal (e.g. McConnell et al. 1992). As such, Natura 2000 sites within 1,000km of the East Anglia THREE site, have been taken forward in the first step of screening, as agreed with Natural England (Table 5.5).
103. The second step of screening in grey seal also considers detailed telemetry data for UK and Dutch waters from the SMRU and IMARES (in reports commissioned by EATL) and other published data. These studies have been used to further examine any connectivity between seals occurring in the East Anglia THREE site (with a 20km buffer) and any Natura 2000 sites designated for grey seal within 1,000km of the proposed project.
104. Grey seal pups (Figure 5.5) and adults (Figure 5.6) have been tagged in the UK since 1988 by SMRU. The data show that potential use of the East Anglia THREE site and therefore connectivity with SAC sites in the UK is low. No seals tagged in or hauled out at SAC sites in the UK have foraged in the East Anglia THREE site including the 20km buffer. SAC sites on the east coast of the UK are within range of grey seal which could use the East Anglia THREE site, and telemetry studies from Dutch waters support potential connectivity between grey seal at the Humber SAC, Isle of May SAC, and the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC. However, mixing between the North Sea and West coast of Scotland and Irish Sea sub-populations is not observed, therefore Natura 2000 sites in these locations have been screened out.
105. None of the grey seal tagged in the UK entered Natura 2000 sites designated in other member states. However, telemetry from Dutch waters (Figure 5.7 and Figure 5.8) show movement across the southern North Sea and use of the East Anglia THREE site by seals which have also used Natura 2000 sites along the Dutch, French and Belgian coasts.
106. Telemetry data fromgrey seal in French (Vincent et al. 2002) and Irish (e.g.
http://sealtrack.ucc.ie/) waters suggest that there is very limited connectivity between haul out sites on the Isles of Scilly or Irish Sea and individuals foraging in the Southern North Sea. As such, Natura 2000 sites in these locations have been screened out.
HRA High Level Screening May 2014
East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm Page 34
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