Mapping seabird sensitivity to offshore wind farms

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 9; p. e106366
• Main Authors: Bradbury, Gareth, Trinder, Mark, Furness, Bob, Banks, Alex N, Caldow, Richard W G, Hume, Duncan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 11.09.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Aerial surveys; Animal Migration; Animals; Aquatic birds; Aquatic Organisms; Biology and Life Sciences; Birds; Boats; Cell density; Coefficient of variation; Collision mortality; Data processing; Density; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Environmental planning; Fisheries; Flight, Animal; Geographic Information Systems; Mapping; Marine protected areas; Marine resources; Oceans and Seas; Offshore; Offshore energy sources; Offshore operations; Physical Sciences; Populations; Predictions; Remote sensing; Research and Analysis Methods; Resorts & spas; Satellite navigation systems; Seabirds; Seasons; Sensitivity; Ships; Spatial distribution; Species; Territorial waters; Turbines; Wetlands; Wind; Wind farms; Wind power; Wind power generation; Wind power plants; England; North Sea; United Kingdom > UK; Liverpool Bay
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106366

We present a Geographic Information System (GIS) tool, SeaMaST (Seabird Mapping and Sensitivity Tool), to provide evidence on the use of sea areas by seabirds and inshore waterbirds in English territorial waters, mapping their relative sensitivity to offshore wind farms. SeaMaST is a freely available evidence source for use by all connected to the offshore wind industry and will assist statutory agencies in assessing potential risks to seabird populations from planned developments. Data were compiled from offshore boat and aerial observer surveys spanning the period 1979-2012. The data were analysed using distance analysis and Density Surface Modelling to produce predicted bird densities across a grid covering English territorial waters at a resolution of 3 km×3 km. Coefficients of Variation were estimated for each grid cell density, as an indication of confidence in predictions. Offshore wind farm sensitivity scores were compiled for seabird species using English territorial waters. The comparative risks to each species of collision with turbines and displacement from operational turbines were reviewed and scored separately, and the scores were multiplied by the bird density estimates to produce relative sensitivity maps. The sensitivity maps reflected well the amassed distributions of the most sensitive species. SeaMaST is an important new tool for assessing potential impacts on seabird populations from offshore development at a time when multiple large areas of development are proposed which overlap with many seabird species' ranges. It will inform marine spatial planning as well as identifying priority areas of sea usage by marine birds. Example SeaMaST outputs are presented.