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Appendix E Consultations with DEFA
Venue: DEFA Offices, Thie Slieau Whallian, St John's Held on: March 04, 2011
Present:
Dr Fiona Gell Department of Environment, Fisheries & Agriculture (DEFA)
Dr Richard Selman Department of Environment, Fisheries & Agriculture (DEFA)
Jeremy Humphries (JH) Hugh Logan Architects (HLA)
Apologies: None
1.1 The meeting was held to review various environmental issues which are to be addressed within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is to accompany the Planning Application in respect of the proposed marine haven on the site of the old Traaie Meanagh Pool complex in Port Erin.
1.2 The issues to be discussed were the expected impact of the proposed works on marine and land species on and near to the site in question, and how this impact might reasonably be effectively mitigated.
1.3 Dr Gell had advised in previous correspondence and meetings that Port Erin Bay and Spaldrick Bay were important habitats for various marine species and that the impact on these species needed to be assessed. The species that Dr Gell had mentioned to date which are protected under Manx law were basking sharks, harbour porpoises and eel grass. Flat fish had also been mentioned, as although they are not a protected species, the Port Erin Bay area is an important nursery area for plaice and other species of flat fish.
1.4 Dr Selman had been consulted prior to the meeting with regard to the possible impact of the works on any protected land species on or near to the site.
1.5 JH began the meeting by advising that HLA intended to submit a Planning Application at the end of the month. JH advised that the current project did not include the break water, which had formerly been proposed during the initial consultations between the client and various authorities.
2.1 Dr Gell reiterated that the Isle of Man is one of the world's best known locations for sitings of basking sharks. Basking sharks frequent Port Erin Bay and Spaldrick Bay for feeding and courtship activities between May and September, with activity peaking from June to July.
2.2 Harbour porpoises are also known to frequent the bay. JH advised that the Manx Whale & Dolphin Watch website seemed to indicate that porpoise activity was primarily in the Spring and Summer. Dr Gell cautioned that this information was based on casual sitings, and that she could provide more up to date information, collating dedicated sitings of basking sharks and porpoises over the last five years.
2.3 Dr Gell advised that sharks and porpoises could be potentially be impacted upon by boat traffic to and from the site during the works and during the operation of the facility, and by siltation caused during the building works. Siltation could disrupt the sharks' feeding.
2.4 Dr Gell advised that carrying out construction activities outside of the season during which these species frequent the Bay, especially the peak seasons, was the most effective way to avoid causing disruption. However, she accepted that it might not be feasible to do this in practice. She advised that if work was to proceed “in-season”, it would be advisable for the contractor to make provision for a marine mammal observer to keep watch for sharks and porpoises during operations likely to affect them (eg barges approaching or departing from the site). Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch can advise on this in more detail.
2.5 JH agreed to provide within the EIA an estimate of the anticipated increase in boating activity during the operation of the facility. The operators of the facility must ensure that future users are aware of and comply with all guidance and statutory requirements in respect of wild life protection as apply to marine recreational activities.
2.5 Dr Gell advised that it would be useful for HLA to describe the construction processes likely to cause siltation, and an estimate of the anticipated levels of such siltation. Siltation could be caused by fine particles such as sand or cement being discharged into the sea, or the sea bed being disrupted by dredging.
2.6 Dr Gell advised that processes likely to cause siltation should be kept to a minimum and contained within the confines of the site. Waste should be kept within the site and removed for disposal. Discharge into the sea should be avoided, and in cases where discharge was unavoidable, harmful materials should be filtered out as far as possible. JH advised that this would be addressed in the EIA. JH advised that the construction operations envisaged were modest and that waste and discharge would be controlled as required by law on any normal building site.
2.7 JH advised that it was intended that all demolition rubble and excavated material was to be used as fill, and that it was not intended that this material be removed from the site by sea.
2.7 Dr Gell advised that it would be useful for HLA to provide a plan of the anticipated extent of the proposed dredging operations, particularly any anticipated sub-tidal excavation. Dredging of the sea bed would increase siltation, which would have an impact on marine species. Generally, operations causing changes to the sea bed and movement of sand should be avoided and / or minimized as far as possible. Limiting
dredging to the rocky area as far as possible would substantially limit siltation and its associated impact.
2.8 Dr Gell also requested that the EIA contain details of future dredging that may be required to keep the proposed channel clear, during the operation of the facility.
2.9 Dr Gell advised that a survey to establish the presence or absence of eel grass should be carried out, if substantial sub-tidal excavation to the sandy sea bed was proposed. Such a survey could conceivably be carried out from a boat at low tide, if required. This would not be necessary if excavation was limited to the rocky areas. HLA is to confirm the expected extent of excavation.
3.1 Dr Selman agreed that the proposed works would not impact on any land species that were known of on or near the site, as long as land access to the site was limited to the footpaths, there was no shading of any habitat adjacent to the footpaths, and that the habitats adjacent to the footpaths were not disturbed.
3.2 HLA is to contact Manx Birdlife to establish whether any Schedule 1 bird species are likely to be affected by the proposed works.
4.1 HLA is to forward a draft copy of the EIA to Drs Gell and Selman, for their comment, prior to its inclusion in the Planning Application.
Distribution: All present
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