Integrated survey methodologies provide process-driven framework for marine renewable energy environmental impact assessment

James Chapman; Benjamin J Williamson; Ana Couto; Arianna Zampollo; Ian M Davies; Beth E Scott

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106532

Integrated survey methodologies provide process-driven framework for marine renewable energy environmental impact assessment

Mar Environ Res. 2024 May 3:198:106532. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106532. Online ahead of print.

Authors

James Chapman¹, Benjamin J Williamson², Ana Couto¹, Arianna Zampollo¹, Ian M Davies³, Beth E Scott¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK.
² School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, AB24 2TZ, UK; Environmental Research Institute, University of Highlands and Islands, Thurso, KW14 7EE, UK. Electronic address: benjamin.williamson@uhi.ac.uk.
³ Scottish Government Marine Directorate, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK.

PMID: 38718523
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106532

Abstract

Environmental interactions of marine renewable energy developments vary from fine-scale direct (e.g. potential collision) to indirect wide-scale hydrodynamic changes altering oceanographic features. Current UK Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and associated Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) guidelines have limited focus on underlying processes affecting distribution and movements (hence vulnerability) of top predators. This study integrates multi-trophic ship survey (active acoustics and observer data) with an upward-facing seabed platform and 3-dimensional hydrodynamic model as a process-driven framework to investigate predator-prey linkages between seabirds and fish schools. Observer-only data highlighted the need to measure physical drivers of variance in species abundances and distributions. Active acoustics indicated that in situ (preferable to modelled) data were needed to identify temporal changes in hydrodynamics to predict prey and consequently top predator presence. Revising methods to identify key habitats and environmental covariates within current regulatory frameworks will enable more robust and transferable EIA and HRA processes and outputs, and at larger scales for cumulative and strategic-level assessments, enabling future modelling of ecosystem impacts from both climate change and renewable energy extraction.

Keywords: Biophysical data collection; Environmental impact assessment; Habitat; Hydrodynamics; Marine renewable energy; Monitoring; Monitoring guidance; Seabirds; Survey methods; Uncertainty.