Abstract
The following document provides the proposed methodologies to undertake the Pre Construction Monitoring Programme for marine mammals in the Moray Firth. In February 2009, The Crown Estate awarded an exclusivity agreement to SSE Renewables (formerly Airtricity) and SeaEnergy Renewables (hereafter referred to as BOWL – Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm Ltd) for the development of the Beatrice Wind Farm in the outer Moray Firth within Scottish Territorial Waters. BOWL is proposing to develop, construct and operate the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm (the Wind Farm) and associated offshore transmission works (OfTW), together known as ‘the Project’. The Wind Farm Site is located approximately 25 km south, south-east of Wick, Caithness and is located on the Smith Bank, a bathymetric high in the outer Moray Firth. The Wind Farm Site is, at its closest point, 13.5 km from the coastline (see Figure 1.1). In January 2010 the Crown Estate awarded Moray Offshore Renewables Limited (MORL) a Zone Development Agreement for Zone 1 of their Third Round of offshore wind licensing. Zone 1 is located on the Smith Bank in the outer Moray Firth. It lies at its closest point 12 nautical miles (approx 13.5 statute miles or 22km) from the Caithness Coast. It covers an area of 281 square nautical miles or 520 square km, and ranges from 37m-57m (60-180 feet or 20-31 fathoms) in depth (see Figure 1.1). The current consent applications by MORL relate to three wind farm sites located within the Eastern Development Area of Zone 1. The total area of these three sites extends to 295 square km.