Screening Feature Possible effect of Likely significant effect Duration Discussion Screening Affected development outcome Otter Construction activity close Disturbance during construction to otters Greater Construction will some disruption in Minor negative – to known otter habitat feeding, moving and resting during the local area on a temporary basis. Otters Slight adverse construction likely to avoid area but plenty additional impact on 2 period suitable habitat nearby species Permanent structure on Loss of feeding area and minimal Permanent Very minor section of coastal home range Neutral otter home range displacement of individual animals lost Increase in commercial Larger vessels using site more frequently On-going Wildlife tends to be more tolerant and Minor negative – activity. Boats and increased likelihood of pollution and waste but year adaptable to regular patterns of work. Fish Slight adverse vehicles moving 24/7 entering marine environment. Greater round processing may provide additional food impact on Annex potential for significant incident oil spill sources. New breakwaters may provide 2 species – new habitats for food (fish and crustaceans) Increase in recreational Increase in more irregular disturbance to On-going The site may become a significant target Minor negative – activity scale otter behaviour. Otters may choose to make but highly destination for visitors. More people will be Slight adverse recreational craft kayaks, less use of the area for feeding and to pass seasonal walking along the shore and exercising impact on Annex – sailing craft etc through the area more rapidly dogs but visitor disturbance is likely to be 2 species Possible increase in highly seasonal. Small craft activity is camper vans and generally unpredictable and may increase associated dog walking casual visitation to Staffin island Common Increase in commercial Potential of disturbance to seals feeding, Greater Loss of natural haul out sites on reef. Minor negative – Seal and recreational activity moving and resting. Removal of natural during Potential to adapt to new breakwater Slight adverse haul out sites. construction structures impact on 2 period then species permanent Grey Seal Increase in commercial Disturbance to seals feeding, moving and maybe attracted by potential for Neutral effect on and recreational activity resting additional feeding from fish scraps Annex 2 species Minor loss of foreshore Disturbance to number of feeding birds During Birds can adapt to increase levels of Neutral like oystercatchers and curlew unlikely to construction activity and there are a range of other – be significant. Potential increase in period then locations close by with equivalent feeding opportunist species gulls and corvids. permanent opportunities – Marine Increase in commercial More vessel movements but impacts Permanent Larger marine mammals tend to be found Neutral – mammals and recreational activity unlikely to be significant further offshore
Screening Feature Affected Possible effect of development Likely significant effect Duration Discussion Screening outcome Otter Construction activity close to known otter habitat Disturbance during construction to otters feeding, moving and resting Greater during construction period Construction will some disruption in the local area on a temporary basis. Otters likely to avoid area but plenty additional suitable habitat nearby Minor negative – Slight adverse impact on 2 species Permanent structure on otter home range Loss of feeding area and minimal displacement of individual animals Permanent Very minor section of coastal home range lost Neutral Increase in commercial activity. Boats and vehicles moving 24/7 Larger vessels using site more frequently increased likelihood of pollution and waste entering marine environment. Greater potential for significant incident – oil spill On-going but year round Wildlife tends to be more tolerant and adaptable to regular patterns of work. Fish processing may provide additional food sources. New breakwaters may provide new habitats for food (fish and crustaceans) Minor negative – Slight adverse impact on Annex 2 species Increase in recreational activity scale recreational craft – kayaks, sailing craft etc Possible increase in camper vans and associated dog walking Increase in more irregular disturbance to otter behaviour. Otters may choose to make less use of the area for feeding and to pass through the area more rapidly On-going but highly seasonal The site may become a significant target destination for visitors. More people will be walking along the shore and exercising dogs but visitor disturbance is likely to be highly seasonal. Small craft activity is generally unpredictable and may increase casual visitation to Staffin island Minor negative – Slight adverse impact on Annex 2 species Common Seal Increase in commercial and recreational activity Potential of disturbance to seals feeding, moving and resting. Removal of natural haul out sites. Greater during construction period then permanent Loss of natural haul out sites on reef. Potential to adapt to new breakwater structures Minor negative – Slight adverse impact on 2 species Grey Seal Increase in commercial and recreational activity Disturbance to seals feeding, moving and resting maybe attracted by potential for additional feeding from fish scraps Neutral effect on Annex 2 species Minor loss of foreshore Disturbance to number of feeding birds like oystercatchers and curlew – unlikely to be significant. Potential increase in opportunist species – gulls and corvids. During construction period then permanent Birds can adapt to increase levels of activity and there are a range of other locations close by with equivalent feeding opportunities Neutral Marine mammals Increase in commercial and recreational activity More vessel movements – but impacts unlikely to be significant Permanent Larger marine mammals tend to be found further offshore Neutral
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