Download Screening Matrix for Shellfish Culture in Streamstown Bay, Co. Galway

iltreamstown Bay Screening
Screening Matrix for Shellfish Culture in Streamstown Bay, Co. Galway
Brief description of the project or plan
Oysters (Crasssostrea gigas), clams (Ruditapes
phillippinarum) and Abalone are cultured at a total of 19
licensed sites in Streamstown Bay, Co. Galway. In addition
there are 2 applications for the culture of oysters. The
locations of the sites are shown in Figure 1.
Brief description of the Natura 2000 site
Streamstown Bay is located of the west coast of Ireland in
county Galway and encompasses and area of 3.4km2.
The bay is not located within any Natura site. However, the
Bay is bordered by two SACs, the West Connaught cSAC
and the Kingstown Bay SAC. Two other SACs are
considered close to Streamstown, these are Omey Island
Machair SAC and Barnahallia Lough SAC. (see Figure 1)
Adjacent Sites:
West Connaught SAC (Site code: 002998): The site,
comprising two parts, is a substantial area of marine
waters off the west coast of Counties Galway and Mayo.
The site is selected as a SAC because it contains a
number of physical and hydrographic features considered
important for the Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus.
Kingstown Bay SAC (Site Code: 002265): The site is a
narrow inlet just south of Streamstown Bay. The site is
designated a large shallow inlet and bay and is considered
an excellent example of a sheltered bay. Marine
communities found within the bay are diveite and include
examples of Maerl and seagrass (Zostera). The maerl
habitat is considered important nationally.
Other Sites:
Omey Island Machair SAC (Site Code: 001309): This
site is designated for the habitat Machair and Hard Oligomesotrophic waters as well as the species petalworth. The
closest point of the SAC to Streamstown Bay is
approximately 1km.
Barnahallia Lough SAC (Site Code: 002118): This SAC
is considered a good example of an oligotrophic system in
a coastal location. It is designated for the habitat
oligotrophic waters and the rare plant species slender
naiad. The closest point of the SAC to Streamstown Bay is
approximately 1km.
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Streamstown Bay Screening
Assessment criteria
Describe the individual elements of the
project (either alone or in combination
with other plans or projects) likely to
give rise to impacts on the Natura 2000
site.
Oysters, clams and abalone are cultured in Streamstown
Bay.
Oyster culture is carried out using bags and trestles in the
intertidal zone. Depending upon the size of stock, the
number of oysters in each bag will vary with lower
numbers in bags with larger oysters. The trestles are
arranged in rows along the shore to maximise water
movement over the oysters in the bags.
Intertidal clam culture is carried out on mud and sand flat
by placing the smaller seed clams in boxes of sediment
and covered by mesh. As they grow the clams are spread
directly into the sediment and covered by netting to
prevent predation.
Abalone are cultured in tanks on land or in cage structures
in the subtidal areas. They are contained at all times.
Describe any likely direct, indirect or
secondary impacts of the project (either
alone or in combination with other
plans or projects) on the Natura 2000
site by virtue of:
size and scale;
Distance from the Natura 2000 site or
key features of the site:
Resource requirements (water
abstraction etc.):
Emissions (disposal to land, water or
air):
There are no direct or indirect impacts from the culture
operations on any of the SACs proximate to Streamstown
Bay.
The activities in question occur within Streamstown Bay
the mouth of which is adjacent to West Connaught Coast
SAC and Kingstown Bay SAC and within 1km of Omey
Island Machair SAC and Barnahallia Lough SAC. (see
Figure 1).
Oysters and clams are filter feeders and they feed upon
suspended particulate matter. They selectively ingest
phytoplankton and other organic material (e.g. small
zooplankton and bacteria) and dispose of inorganic and
larger organic matter in pseudofeces, which is excreted
into the water column. Typically the fecal and pseudofecal
pellets will fall to the sea floor and may cause localised
organic enrichment and/or sedimentation. The level of
enrichment is a function of, inter alia, water depth current
speed, density of culture, the quantity of suspended
particulate matter in the water column, or a combination of
these. The shellfish production activities do not use any
resources required by the qualifying features within the
Natura 2000 sites.
The only emissions arising from the shellfish production
are the solids faeces and pseudofeaces and dissolved
nitrogenous material (ammonium), which are excreted into
the water column. Typically the fecal and pseudofecal
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Streamstown Bay Screening
pellets will fall to the sea floor and there is no direct or
indirect impact on the qualifying interests within the Natura
2000 sites.
Excavation requirements:
Transportation requirements:
Duration of construction, operation,
decommissioning:
Other:
Intertidal oyster and clam culture sites are accessed via
vehicle (tractors) along designated routes through the
shore. As a consequence, noise and pollution e.g as a
result of a fuel spill may present a risk to features of
adjoining Natura sites. The risks are not considered
significant at current levels. Impacts would be localised
and minor. Also, licence conditions specify that vehicles
and vessels used in the conduct of aquaculture operations
must maintain strict operation and safety standards, such
that risks associated with noise, spills and emissions are
minimised and/or mitigated.
There are no excavation or similar activities associated
with the aquaculture activity
The produced shellfish are transported offsite by lorry
using the existing national road network with no impact on
the adjoining Natura 2000 sites.
None
None
Describe any likely changes to the site
arising as a result of:
Reduction of habitat area:
Disturbance to key species:
Habitat or species fragmentation:
There is no reduction in habitat area within any of the
Natura 2000 sites considered arising from the shellfish
production activities.
There is no evidence in the scientific literature to suggest
that shellfish culture impacts on dolphin species (Feature
of West Connaught Coast SAC). Furthermore, any impacts
on habitats are likely to be local and not extend beyond the
footprint of the activities. Therefore they are not likely to
impact on any of the adjacent SACs.
There is no habitat or species fragmentation within the
Natura 2000 sites arising from the shellfish production
activities.
Reduction in species density:
There is no reduction in species density within the Natura
2000 sites arising from the shellfish production activities.
Changes in key indicators of
conservation value (water quality):
There are no changes in key indicators of conservation
value within the Natura 2000 sites arising from the shellfish
production activities.
Climate change:
Given the nature and scale of the shellfish production
activities the contribution to climate change is insignificant.
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Strearnstown Bay Screening
Describe any likely impacts on the
Natura 2000 site as a whole in term of;
intenerence with the key relationships
that define the structure of the site:
Provide indicators of significance as a
result of the identification of effects set
out above in terms of:
None of the activities associated with the production of
shellfish in Streamstown Bay will interfere with the key
relationships that define the structure of the Natura 2000
sites.
None identified
None identified:
None identified
Fragmentation:
None identified
Disruption:
None identified
Disturbance:
None identified
Change to key elements of the site
(e.g. water quality etc..):
None identified
Describe from the above those
elements of the project or plan, or
combination of elements, where the
above impacts are likely to be
significant or where the scale or
magnitude of impacts is not known.
None identified
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Streamstown Bay Screening
Finding of no significance effect report:
Name of project or plan:
Shellfish Aquaculture activities in Streamstown Bay, Co.
Galway
Name and location of Natura 2000 site
It would be helpful for a map or plan to
be provided:
Description of the project or plan
Is the project or plan directly connected
with or necessary to the management of
the site (provide details)?
West Connaught cSAC, Kingstown Bay SAC, Omey
Island Mahair SAC and Barnahallia Lough SAC (Figure 1).
The plan is to licence the shellfish culture activity in
Streamstown Bay, Co. Galway. The activities in question
cover approx. 50 ha. in total.
No.
Are there other projects or plans that
together with the project or plan being
assessed could affect the site (provide
details)?
No.
Describe how the project or plan (alone
or in combination) is likely to affect the
Natura 2000 site.
The cultivation of shellfish in Streamstown Bay is not likely
to affect the features of overlapping or adjoining Natura
2000 sites.
Explain why these effects are not
considered significant.
There is no spatial overlap of the shellfish culture activities
with Natura sites. In addition, there would be no
interference with key relationships that define the function
of the sites. The shellfish culture activity will not result in
habitat loss, there will not be significant disturbance to key
species and there will be no habitat or species
fragmentation. There will be no direct discharge of
pollutants into the environment during the works and water
quality will not be affected. Consequently, it is concluded
that the culture of shellfish, as it is currently constituted, in
Streamstown Bay does not pose significant risk to the
conservation features of the adjacent sites and as such
does not require a full appropriate assessment.
Who carried out the assessment?
On the basis of the above it is considered that there will be
no significant effects on the qualifying interests' of the
Natura 2000 sites.
Marine Institute
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Streamstown Bay Screening
'ish lutre ite
Figure 1. Shellfish culture activities and Natura Sites within the region of Streannstown Bay, Co. Galway.
Orney Island Machair SAC
Barnahallia Lough SAC
A
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