This section presents the findings of an impact
assessment on existing capture and culture fisheries, including fisheries
resources, fishing operations and fish/oyster culture activities, from the
construction and operation of the Gas Receiving Stations (GRSs)
and submarine gas pipelines in the Black Point area. It summarises baseline information on
fisheries production around Black Point gathered from the literature
review. The assessment of fisheries
impacts is based on the Project Description (Section 3) and the findings of the Water Quality Assessment (Section 6).
9.2
Relevant
Legislation & Assessment Criteria
The criteria for evaluating fisheries impacts are
stated in the EIAO-TM. Annex
17 of the EIAO-TM prescribes the
general approach and methodology for assessing fisheries impacts caused by a
project or proposal, to allow a complete and objective identification,
prediction and evaluation of the potential impacts. EIAO-TM
Annex 9 recommends the criteria that are to be used for evaluation of
fisheries impacts.
Other legislation which applies to fisheries includes:
·
Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap 171), which provides for the
conservation of fish and other aquatic life, regulates fishing practices and
prevents activities detrimental to the fishing industry.
·
Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap 353), which regulates and protects
marine fish culture and other related activities and requires all marine fish
culture activity to operate under licence in designated Fish Culture Zones.
·
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance
(Cap 499), Section 5(7) - Environmental Impact Assessment Study Brief no.
ESB-208/2009 Section 3.4.6,
which outlines the key fisheries impacts to be
reviewed and assessed in the EIA Report.
9.3
Baseline
Conditions & Fisheries Sensitive Receivers
The Study Area for fisheries was the same as that for
the Water Quality Impact Assessment (see Section
6). A desktop review of
existing information on commercial fisheries resources and fishing operations
in waters of the Study Area has been undertaken, and the most up-to-date
information was obtained primarily from the Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD). For
a detailed description of the physical and biological characteristics of the
marine environment of the Study Area please refer to Sections 6 and 8
respectively.
9.3.1
Overview of
Marine-based commercial fishing operations in
Mariculture fishery operations occur at 26 Fish
Culture Zones (FCZs) which altogether occupy about
209 ha of
For capture fisheries, the size of
Based on the latest data from AFCD Port
Survey 2006, the highest fisheries production (600 to 1,000 kg ha-1)
in Hong Kong was recorded in the vicinity of the Ninepin Island Group, Po Toi and Tap Mun ([2]).
These areas also recorded the highest number of fishing vessels. Scad (Carangidae), shrimp, rabbitfish (Siganidae), squid, croaker (Sciaenidae), crab, mullet (Mugilidae),
sardine (Clupeidae), seabream
(Sparidae) and anchovy (Engraulidae)
were the top 10 families captured in
Since 1999, Mainland Authorities have implemented an
annual fishing moratorium for
9.3.2
Culture Fisheries
in the Study Area
There are no Fish Culture Zones (FCZ) located close
to the proposed reclamation and submarine gas pipelines (Figure 9.1). The closest AFCD designated FCZ is
located at Ma Wan which is over 20 km from the proposed site).
Despite the long established oyster farming practice
on the
9.3.3
Capture Fisheries
in the Study Area
Fishing Operations
The area and number of vessels operating in the Study
Area during 2005 are presented in Figure 9.2 ([3]).
Very low numbers of fishing vessels (10 – 50 vessels), mostly shrimp trawlers,
hang trawlers, gill netters and sampans, operated in waters around the proposed
facilities at Black Point in 2005.
Elsewhere within the Study Area, moderate numbers of vessels (100 – 400
vessels) were recorded near the Sha Chau and
Fisheries Production
In Deep Bay waters where the proposed
Project will be situated, the production of adult fish and value of catch
ranked 12th among the 12 fishing sectors in Hong Kong waters, and in
1998 an estimated annual catch of 73 tonnes of adult fish and zero fry was
recorded in these waters ([4]).
More recent data from the AFCD Port Survey
2006 indicated that fisheries production in waters around the proposed
facilities at Black Point in 2005 was very low, with £
Results of the Port Survey 2006 thus suggested that
waters in outer
9.3.4
Fisheries Resources - Spawning Areas
The northern Lantau waters
were previously identified in 1998 as fisheries spawning grounds for high value
commercial species (Figure 9.1) ([6]).
This area is approximately 10 km long (from Tai Mo To island to
The recognised northern Lantau
spawning area is located south of the proposed Project at a distance of about
4.7 km (Figure 9.1), and is considered unlikely to be affected
by the construction and operation of this Project due to the large separation
distance.
9.3.5
Artificial Reef Deployment
The AFCD has been undertaking a programme
to enhance existing marine habitats and fisheries resources through the siting, construction and deployment of artificial reefs (ARs). Generally
ARs provide hard bottom, high profile habitat in
areas without natural cover and may potentially act as fish enhancement
devices. In March 2000, the Sha Chau AR was deployed with the
key objective of enhancing the marine habitat quality and fisheries resources (Figure
9.1) ([8]).
A total of 42 units of concrete-coated container and 24 units of ferro-cement river barges with a total volume of 5,580 m3
have been deployed on the seabed.
They are located at least 7.8 km away from the proposed Project, and are
considered unlikely to be affected by the construction and operation of this
Project due to the large separation distance. Results of the water quality modelling
exercise support this conclusion (Section
6).
Based on the baseline information provided above, the
importance of the fisheries within the Study Area is evaluated. The fishing areas within the Study Area,
in particular within the Project’s footprint, are being considered as of low
commercial value. The small size
and subsequent low value of the catches characterise the waters of the Project
Area as of low importance to the
According to Annex
9 of the EIAO-TM, spawning
grounds can be regarded as an important habitat type as they are critical to
the regeneration and long-term survival of many organisms and their
populations. No spawning area has
been identified within the footprint of the proposed Project. The closest recognised spawning area is
located approximately 4.7 km south of the Project site.
Based on the preceding review of the available information
on the capture and culture fisheries of the waters in the vicinity of the
proposed Project, the potential sensitive receivers that may be affected by the
Project activities are identified as follows:
·
Recognised
spawning ground of commercial fisheries resources in north Lantau
(south of the proposed Project at a distance of about 4.7 km);
·
Artificial
reefs in the
·
Oyster
production area at
The locations of the sensitive receivers are shown in
Figure 9.1.
FCZs are not expected to be affected by the
Project due to their distances from the Project site and they are thus not
considered to be sensitive receivers.
The water quality modelling results presented in Section 6 support this conclusion.
A desktop literature review of baseline fisheries conditions
was conducted for the purpose of establishing the fisheries importance of the
waters in the vicinity of the proposed facilities at Black Point. Information from the water quality
impact assessment (Section 6) was
examined to refine the size of the Study Area as that is potentially affected
by perturbations to water quality parameters. This area, refined to within 3 km from
the Project facilities, became the main focus for this fisheries impact assessment. The importance of potentially impacted
fisheries resources and fishing operations within this area was studied. The potential impacts due to the
construction and operation of the Project were then assessed (with reference to
the EIAO-TM Annex 17 guidelines) and
the impacts evaluated (with reference to the criteria in EIAO-TM Annex 9).
9.5
Potential Impacts
& Impact Assessment on Fisheries Resources
9.5.1
Construction Phase
As discussed in Section
3, the construction of the proposed GRS reclamation and installation of the
submarine pipelines at Black Point Power Station (BPPS) will involve dredging/
jetting and reclamation works in
·
Direct
disturbances to that habitat;
·
Underwater
sound generated from marine construction activities; and
·
Perturbations
to key water quality parameters.
Habitat Disturbance
Direct impacts to fisheries resources and fishing
operations include habitat disturbance caused by the dredging / jetting and
reclamations works. Construction of
the proposed reclamation and associated artificial seawall is predicted to lead
to the permanent loss of approximately 0.5 ha of fishery habitat, and dredging/
jetting works are expected to cause temporary disturbance to an area of
approximately 16.5 ha (see Table 8.4).
Owing to the very small area of the fishing ground
permanently lost to reclamation and due to its low fisheries importance,
unacceptable impacts to local fisheries resources and fishing operations are
not expected.
Although a larger area is impacted by the dredging/
jetting activities in Hong Kong (approximately 16.5 ha) for the pipeline and
seawall trenches, unacceptable impacts on the fishery resources and activities
are also not expected due to the temporary nature of the interference (< 12
months for construction of one pipeline) and the low fisheries importance of
the area. Furthermore, fisheries
resources are expected to return to the area following the cessation of marine
construction activities. Issuance
of Marine Department Notice or other notifications is expected to reduce the
risk of collision of increased marine traffic and fishing vessels to within
acceptable levels.
Underwater Sound
Intermittent sounds, which occur during activities
such as dredging / jetting and marine vessel movement, may have an impact on
fisheries resources during the construction phase. Potential effects of increased
underwater sound include physiological stress, avoidance and injury (at high
pressure levels). The level of
impact is however dependent upon background sound, number of fish present, type
of species affected, attenuation properties of seabed sediments and hearing
capabilities of the species affected, etc.
Most marine invertebrates do not possess air-filled
space and thus it is generally considered that sound would have limited
physiological or behavioural effects on marine invertebrates, except if they
are located within a few metres of the sound source. Therefore underwater sound generated
from marine works is expected to have negligible impact on fisheries resources
such as crustaceans.
Fish, however, can detect underwater sound vibrations
through two ways, the lateral line system and the inner ear for species
containing air-filled swim bladders.
Anthropogenic underwater sounds associated with vessels for this
Project, such as barges, guard vessels, dredgers and jetting machine, exhibit
major energy below 1,000 Hz and sound levels of between 170 and 190 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m and may be audible to most fish species ([9]).
Waters within and around the Project site encompass the Urmston Road and
have been identified as being subject to relatively high levels of marine
traffic by similar types of vessels; therefore it is reasonable to assume that
fish in these waters are habituated to a relatively high background level of
underwater sound, and a small increase in vessel activity associated with the
construction of this Project is not anticipated to result in unacceptable
impacts on fisheries resources.
Changes in Water Quality
Indirect impacts to fisheries resources and fishing
operations during the construction phase of the Project include sediment
release associated with the marine works.
Potential impacts to water quality from sediment release are as follows:
·
Increased
concentrations of suspended solids (SS);
·
Decreased
dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations;
·
An increase
in nutrient concentrations in the water column.
Suspended Solids (SS)
Dredging/ jetting and backfilling works for this
Project are expected to generate SS within the water column and result in
increased sediment deposition in close proximity of the works areas. The modelling works have analysed SS
dispersion from construction works (Section
6.7.1).
Fluxes of SS naturally occur in the marine
environment and as a result fish have evolved behavioural adaptations to
tolerate changes in SS load (e.g. clearing their gills by flushing water over
them). However, increased SS
concentrations that would arise from the dredging/ jetting/ backfilling works
would be uncharacteristic of the usual variable marine conditions. Concentrations of SS generated by these
marine construction activities are expected to be greater, particularly in the
immediate vicinity of the particular works area. Beyond the active marine works areas,
dispersion can be expected to lead to a rapid decline in the SS concentrations.
Compared to adult fish, larvae and post-juvenile fish
are relatively more susceptible to variations in SS concentrations as their
sensory system is less developed.
Adult fish are more likely to move away from area of disturbance when
they detect sufficiently elevated SS concentrations and therefore are unlikely
to be significantly impacted.
The SS level at which fish move into clearer water is
defined as the tolerance threshold which varies among species and different
stages of the life cycle. If SS
levels exceed tolerance thresholds and the fish are not able to move away from
the affected area, the fish are likely to become stressed, injured and may
eventually die. The rate, timing
and duration of SS elevations influence the type and extent of impacts upon fish
and potentially crustaceans ([10])
([11]).
Findings from literature reviews indicated
that lethal responses had not been reported in adult fish at SS values below
125 mg L-1 ([12]) and that sublethal
effects were only observed when levels exceeded 90 mg L-1 ([13]).
However, as part of a study for AFCD, Consultancy Study on Fisheries and Marine Ecological Criteria for
Impact Assessment guideline values have been identified for fisheries and
selected marine ecological sensitive receivers. The values are based on international
marine water quality guidelines for the protection of ecosystems ([14]).
The AFCD study recommends a maximum SS concentration of 50 mg L-1
(based on half of the no observable effect concentrations). However, the study cautioned that
site-specific data should be considered in environmental assessments on a
case-by-case basis. In order to
provide a more conservative assessment (i.e. with a lower tolerance criterion),
the Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) for SS elevation
are adopted instead in this study as the assessment criteria for fisheries
sensitive receivers.
As discussed in Section
6.7.1, the water quality modelling results have indicated that at all
fisheries sensitive receivers, SS elevations as a result of dredging/ jetting
and backfilling works are predicted be compliant with the relevant WQOs for both wet and dry seasons (Tables 6.10 to 6.16). Elevated levels of SS as a result of
these works are expected to be temporary in nature and localised to proximity
of particular works area which is considered as of low fisheries
importance. As such, unacceptable
impacts from such works on fisheries are not expected to occur. The water quality assessment has also
shown that unacceptable water quality impacts due to the release of heavy
metals and organic micro-pollutants associated with suspended solids are not
expected to occur (see Section 6.7.5).
Finally it should be noted that the Black Point
Project site is at the mouth of
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
The relationships between SS and DO are complex, with
elevated SS in the water column together with a number of other factors to
reduce DO concentrations. Elevated
SS (and turbidity) reduces light penetration, lowers the rate of photosynthesis
by phytoplankton (ie primary productivity) and thus
lowers the rate of oxygen production in the water column. Furthermore, the potential release of
sediment contaminants into the water column may consume the DO in the receiving
water. The resulting overall DO
depletion has the potential to cause an adverse effect on the eggs and larvae
of fish and crustaceans, as at these stages of development high levels of
oxygen in the water are required for growth to support high metabolic growth
rates.
The results of the water quality assessment (see Section 6.7.3) have indicated that DO
depletion as a result of dispersion of sediment plumes associated with marine
works of the Project are predicted to remain compliant with the WQOs at all fisheries sensitive receivers for all
construction scenarios. The largest
reduction in DO levels is predicted to be localised to the immediate vicinity
of the marine works area and the plumes would not extend to the fisheries
spawning ground in north Lantau. Therefore, unacceptable impacts to
fisheries from the reduction of DO concentration are not expected to occur.
Nutrients
High levels of nutrients (total inorganic nitrogen -
TIN and ammonia) released from dredged sediments to seawater may potentially
cause rapid increases in phytoplankton population, on occasions to the point
that an algal bloom occurs. An
intense algal bloom can cause sharp decreases in the levels of DO. This decrease would initially occur in
the surface water, and then spread to deeper water as dead algae fall through
the water column and decompose on the seabed.
The water quality modelling results have indicated
that elevated nutrients concentrations are expected to remain compliant with WQOs at all fisheries sensitive receivers (see Section 6.7.4). Unacceptable impacts to fisheries are
thus not expected to occur.
Contaminant Release
Clause 3.4.6.5 of the Study Brief requires an assessment of potential impacts on
fisheries resources caused by potential release of contaminants from
disturbance of bottom marine sediments.
The potential for release of contaminants from dredged sediments has
been assessed in Section 6.7.5,
whereas, a comprehensive set of data on the marine sediment quality is provided
in Section 7 – Waste Management.
As discussed in Section
6.7.5, unacceptable water quality impacts due to the potential leaching of
heavy metals and micro-organic pollutants from the disturbed sediments into the
water column are not expected to occur.
Impacts on fisheries resources due to bioaccumulation of released
contaminants from dredged sediments are thus not expected to occur.
In summary, predicted levels of SS, DO, nutrient and
contaminant concentrations as a result of dredging/ jetting/ backfilling works
of this Project are anticipated to be in compliance with the relevant
assessment criteria. Unacceptable
indirect water quality impacts from sediment release on fisheries sensitive
receivers (Section 9.3.7) are thus
not expected to occur.
9.5.2
Operation Phase
The potential impacts of the operational phase of the
Project on the fisheries of the Study Area can be divided into two main
categories:
·
Impacts
arising from the permanent loss of fisheries habitat;
·
Secondary
impacts arising from the alteration of the marine hydrodynamic regime and on
water quality arising from the reclamation in terms of limited dispersion of
cooling water discharged from the BPPS.
No impacts are expected to occur during the operation
of the submarine pipelines. Impact
to fishery trawling operations caused by the presence of submarine pipelines is
avoided as the pipelines will be buried under the seabed and the seabed along
the pipeline corridors is expected to return to the same level as the
surrounding. Also, benthic
resources, which may serve as food sources for fisheries resources, are
expected to recolonise the affected seabed areas
along the pipeline corridor (Section
8.5.1) and thus secondary impacts on fisheries are not expected.
Habitat Loss
As mentioned in Section
9.5.1, this Project would result in a permanent loss of about 0.5 ha of
marine habitats due to the presence of the GRS reclamation. From the evaluation of the productivity
and value of the local fisheries in Section
9.3, the affected fishing grounds are considered of low fisheries
importance. Overall, the small size
and low fisheries importance of the affected area suggest that unacceptable
impacts to fisheries caused by permanent habitat loss are not expected to occur.
Hydrodynamic Regime & Secondary Water Quality Impacts
Impacts to fisheries resources may potentially occur
if the shape of the proposed GRS reclamation causes a change to the
hydrodynamic regime of the BPPS coastline or if the reclamation affects the
dispersion of cooling water discharged from the BPPS outfall. Potential impacts of this nature are
described in detail in Section 8.5.2.
Given the small scale of the reclamation, significant
changes in the hydrodynamic regime, flushing capacity and sedimentation pattern
around the BPPS area were not predicted (see Section 6.8) and thus unacceptable impacts on fisheries resources
are not expected to occur.
As discussed in Section
8.5.2, in the presence of the GRS reclamation, temperature of cooling water
from the seawater outfall of the BPPS is expected to dissipate rapidly upon
discharge to a maximum of 2 °C difference from existing condition for a
distance of ~ 1 km from the point of discharge. The temperature change is predicted to
be confined to the surface layer with reduced impact to the bottom layer. Given the localised and small scale of
the predicted temperature elevation, unacceptable impacts to fisheries
resources in the vicinity are not expected to occur.
From the information presented above, the fisheries
impact associated with the Project is not considered to be significant. An evaluation of the impacts according
to Annex 9 of the EIAO-TM is presented below:
·
Nature of Impact:
Permanent impacts are predicted to occur as a result of the loss of
fishing grounds in the 0.5 ha area to be reclaimed for the proposed GRS. Short-term disturbance to fishing
grounds in the Project’s marine works areas is expected as a result of the
dredging/ jetting to form the trenches for the proposed submarine pipelines and
seawall. Potential impacts of
elevated levels of underwater sound as a result of construction activities are
not expected to be unacceptable.
Temporary impacts to pelagic and demersal
fisheries resources as a result of minor perturbations to water quality are
predicted to occur in the immediate vicinity of marine construction works. Unacceptable secondary impacts on
fisheries resources, due to changes in hydrodynamic regime and dispersion of
BPPS cooling water discharges in the presence of GRS reclamation, are not
expected.
·
Size of Affected Area:
The construction and operation of the Project is predicted to result in
the permanent loss of approximately 0.5 ha of fishing ground. This loss is considered to be insignificant
for local fishery resources and fishing operations given the very small size of
habitat lost and low fisheries importance in these waters.
·
Size of Fisheries Resources/production:
The value of the fisheries resources/production of the marine waters
around the GRS reclamation and submarine pipelines is low in comparison to
other waters in
·
Destruction and Disturbance of Nursery and
Spawning Grounds: No important spawning grounds have been
identified within the Project Area.
In north Lantau, a recognised spawning area
for fisheries resources lies about 4.7 km from the proposed Project. As the water quality modelling results
have indicated that impacts to water quality are predicted to be localised and
short-term, impacts to important spawning grounds are not expected to occur.
·
Impact on Fishing Activity:
Due to the small size of the affected area and the low intensity of the
fishing operations, impacts on fishing activity are expected to be
minimal. Potential obstruction to fishing activities
due to pipeline armour rock placement is not anticipated as it will be
installed below or flush with the existing seabed. The seabed temporarily affected by the
pipeline works is, therefore, expected to be restored to its original
configuration.
·
Impact on Aquaculture Activity:
Fish Culture Zones and oyster production areas are too remote to be
affected by the Project. Also no
impact has been identified on mariculture activities
as predicted SS elevations are compliant with the relevant assessment criteria/
standards.
In accordance with the guidelines in the EIAO-TM on fisheries impact assessment,
the policy adopted in this EIA for mitigating impacts to fisheries, are:
·
Avoidance:
Potential impacts should be avoided to the maximum extent practicable by
adopting suitable alternatives;
·
Minimisation:
Unavoidable impacts should be minimised by taking appropriate and
practicable measures such as confining works in specific area or season,
restoration (and possibly enhancement) of disturbed fisheries resources and
habitats; and
·
Compensation: When all
possible mitigation measures have been exhausted and there are still
significant residual impacts or when the impacts are permanent and
irreversible, consideration shall be given to off-site compensation. It may include enhancement of fisheries
resources and habitats elsewhere.
Construction impacts to fisheries resources and
fishing operations have largely been avoided (i.e. important spawning area of commercial
fisheries resources) and reduced through proper planning and design of the
works, in particular those associated with the backfilling and dredging/
jetting activities (e.g. optimisation of project construction schedule, and to
construct a completed seawall above the high water level with a 50 - 100 m
opening for barge access before the commencement of the backfilling works for
reclamation). The main works have
been designed to confirm compliance with the assessment criteria at sensitive
receivers and control water quality impacts to within acceptable levels and
water quality mitigation measures will be implemented to further avoid/reduce
potential impacts (see Section 6). These measures are expected to control
and reduce potential impacts to fisheries resources as well, and no
fisheries-specific mitigation measures or compensation are thus required during
construction.
Significant impacts to fisheries resources and
fishing operations are not expected to occur during the operational phase of
the Project. No additional
fisheries-specific mitigation measures or compensation are required during
operation.
9.8
Residual
Environmental Impacts
The identified residual impact arising from the
Project is the permanent loss of approximately 0.5 ha of fishing ground
required for the GRS reclamation.
The magnitude of this residual impact is considered to be within
acceptable levels given the small size and low fisheries importance of the area
being lost.
9.9.1
Project-Specific Cumulative Impacts
The fisheries impact assessment has considered the
cumulative effects of different activities of this Project on fisheries
resources and fishing operations.
The worst-case scenarios of concurrent construction of all Project
facilities have been assessed in the Water
Quality Impact Assessment (Section 6)
and thus the cumulative impacts of this specific Project have been accounted
for. As discussed in Section 6, the cumulative impacts of the
various project-specific construction activities are not predicted to cause
unacceptable impacts to water quality.
Consequently, unacceptable cumulative impacts to fisheries resources are
not expected to occur.
9.9.2
Cumulative Impacts with Other Developments
Information from publicly available sources suggested
that the construction/ implementation programmes of the following major
projects would coincide with the construction of this Project ([15]):
·
Hong
Kong Link Road (HKLR) of the Hong Kong – Zhuhai –
Macao Bridge (HZMB), which is about 15 km south of the pipeline corridor;
·
Hong
Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities (HKBCF) of the HZMB, which is about 12 km
south of the pipeline corridor;
·
Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TMCLKL), which is about 10 km from the pipeline
corridor; and
·
Contaminated
Mud Pits (CMPs) at East of Sha
Chau and South Brothers, which are at least 10 km
from the pipeline corridor.
It is noted from the approved EIA reports of these
projects that the anticipated cumulative impacts are not expected to be
significant for fisheries resources in this part of
Unacceptable operational-phase impacts on fisheries
resources are not expected to occur for this Project (Sections 8.5.2).
Therefore, operational-phase cumulative impacts with other developments
in and around Black Point are not predicted to occur.
9.10
Environmental
Monitoring & Audit
As no unacceptable impacts have been predicted to
occur during the construction and operation of this Project, monitoring of
fisheries resources during these project phases is not considered necessary.
Monitoring activities designed to detect and mitigate
any unacceptable impacts to water quality during construction phase are also
expected to serve to protect against unacceptable impacts to fisheries. The details of the water quality
monitoring programme are presented in the EM&A
Manual attached to this EIA.
To confirm that the seabed affected by the pipeline
works has restored to its original configuration, a geophysical survey will be
conducted following completion of pipeline works.
A literature review of baseline information on commercial
fisheries resources and fishing operations surrounding the waters of the
proposed Project has been undertaken.
Results from the review indicate that fisheries production values in the
vicinity of the Project Area are low when compared to other waters of
During construction of the Project, direct impacts
arising from the proposed marine works include permanent loss of approximately
0.5 ha of fishing ground due to the GRS reclamation and temporary disturbance
to approximately 16.5 ha of seabed during marine construction works. Given the small size of the fishing
ground and temporal nature of the disturbance, no significant direct impacts
are expected to occur. Potential
impacts of elevated levels of underwater sound as a result of construction
activities are not expected to be unacceptable. Indirect impacts to fisheries resources
related to perturbations to key water quality parameters are also expected to
be insignificant as the predicted changes in water quality are short term and localised
to immediate vicinity of the works area.
Marine construction works have been designed to reduce potential impacts
on the water quality which will, in turn, reduce impacts on fisheries
resources. No fisheries-specific
mitigation measures are required during construction.
Unacceptable operational phase impacts to fisheries
resources and fishing operations are not expected to occur. The permanent loss of 0.5 ha of fishing
ground is not considered to be significant as the area is of small size and low
fisheries importance. Secondary
impacts to fisheries as a result of the physical presence of the reclamation
are not expected to occur. Potential obstruction
to fishing activities due to pipeline armour rock placement is not anticipated
as it will be installed below or flush with the existing seabed. The seabed temporarily affected by the
pipeline works is, therefore, expected to be restored to its original
configuration. No additional fisheries-specific
mitigation measures are required during operation.
All of the potential construction and operational
fisheries impacts identified are deemed acceptable.