AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Technical Report - Geology (North Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report reviews published and newly-acquired seabed geological data in an area of 78,000 square kilometres extending from the coast to more than 200 m water depth to the east of the British Isles. While it can be argued that the modern environment is a product of past environmental conditions, the basis for the review is also that our understanding of the modern environment can be significantly improved if new techniques, data and ideas are applied to a revision of the existing research knowledge.

The purpose of the review is to place the characteristics of the seabed features that were surveyed by the DTI in 2003, and the processes forming them, into an improved understanding of their historical, local and regional context. In the summer of 2003 the DTI carried out new surveys in order to collect environmental information in 6 project areas in SEA5 and 2 project areas in SEA4. The survey data included multi-beam bathymetry, sidescan sonar, seismic reflection profiles, sea-floor photographs and samples.

Tags: Geology
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Technical Report - Marine mammals (North Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). Eight marine mammal species are known to occur regularly in this area: grey seal, harbour seal, harbour porpoise, white-beaked dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, killer whale, and minke whale. Long-finned pilot whales and Risso's dolphins are regularly seen in waters around Shetland. There are occasional at-sea records of at least a further five cetacean species (humpback whale, fin whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin and short-beaked common dolphin) and four pinniped species (hooded seal, bearded seal, ringed seal and walrus).

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Technical Report - Plankton (North Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report provides data on the plankton community in the SEA 5 of the North Sea. Data for this report were provided by the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey, as well as sourced from outside organisations. The SEA 5 area is influenced by the Shelf Edge Current, which breaks off its main route in the form of the Fair Isle Current, the Dooley Current and the East Shetland Inflow. Oceanic water flows into the North Sea in this area, causing periodic incursions of associated planktonic organisms. The report addresses: phytoplankton and zooplankton community composition; Phytoplankton blooms; Abundance of the copepod Calanus; Mero-, pico- and megaplankton; Phytodetritus and vertical fluxes.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Technical report - Diver, grebe and seaduck review

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). A review of the distribution and abundance of divers, grebes and seaduck in the SEA 5 area was carried out by Cork Ecology at the request of the Department of Trade and Industry as part of the production of the SEA 5 Consultation Document. The study area was defined as the east coast of Scotland from the English border north to John O'Groats, including Orkney and Shetland, and the offshore waters in the SEA 5 area. This review considered thirteen species: red-throated diver, black-throated diver, great northern diver, great crested grebe, red-necked grebe, slavonian grebe, scaup, eider, long-tailed duck, common scoter, velvet scoter, goldeneye and red-breasted merganser.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Technical report - Review of the potential impacts of offshore wind farms on migrating and overwintering swans and geese in the SEA5 area (North Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). A review of the coastal distribution and abundance of swans and geese in the SEA 5 area, including migration routes, key feeding areas and roosting areas was carried out. A review of the potential impacts of offshore wind farms on swans and geese was also conducted. The study area was defined as the east coast of Scotland from the English border north to John O' Groats, including Orkney and Shetland, and the offshore waters in the SEA 5 area. The review considered nine species: mute swan, Bewick's swan, whooper swan, bean goose, pinkfooted goose, white-fronted goose, greylag goose, barnacle goose and brent goose. Offshore wind farms may impact birds directly by mortality from collisions or indirectly by displacement from migratory flyways or local flight paths. At present there are very little data on the effects of offshore wind farms on swans and geese. Of the nine species reviewed, five species, whooper swan, mute swan, pink-footed goose, greylag goose and barnacle goose occur in internationally important numbers at coastal sites in the SEA5 area. Greenland white-fronted goose occur in nationally important numbers.

Tags: Production and industrial facilities, Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Distribution and movements of harbour seals around Orkney, Shetland and the Wash

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). 30 harbour seals in Orkney and Shetland and 10 in the Wash were captured and satellite tagged between October 2003 and March 2004. Each seal was tracked for an average of 150 days. As anticipated from initial satellite tagging in St Andrews Bay animals were found to travel much further to forage than previously anticipated. A high degree of individual variation in foraging behaviour of animals was found in Orkney and Shetland. The distance travelled to forage ranged between 5 and 150 km. In the Wash foraging behaviour was more consistent, the majority of foraging occurring between 75 and 120 km from haul-outs. The movement data received from the tags, combined with information on the number of animals counted during aerial surveys at haul-outs have been used to predict at-sea usage of the populations in question.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Sample analysis - Chemistry (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report contains heavy metal concentrations (As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Cd, Fe, Hg, Pb, Mn, Ni, Sr, V and Zn) and sedimentological characteristics (particle-size analysis) which were determined in respectively 61 and 68 samples for the Atlantic margin Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) campaign. A spreadsheet of data is included.

Tags: Geology
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Irish gas data review

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). The study area dealt with in this report includes all of the Irish Sea that falls within Irish Jurisdiction. The report is intended to complement a similar study of UK waters in the Irish Sea undertaken as part of the UK Government's Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6). The aim of this report is to present an up-to-date overview of all relevant data concerning methane-derived authigenic carbonate and features associated with shallow gas and seabed fluid flow in the Irish sector of the western Irish Sea. It presents a detailed assessment of potential gas sources and migration pathways, shallow gas, gas-related seabed structures and evidence of present day gas seepage in the study area.

Tags: Energy resources, Geology
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Prehistoric archaeological remains (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). In order to understand and prioritise the nature of prehistoric archaeological sites, which might occur on the sea floor, this report considers the context of all the adjacent land masses, including the Irish Republic, and in the south the Celtic Sea and western Channel. Prehistoric submarine archaeological remains back to a date of about 225,000 years ago, Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic, could occur with low probability in many parts of the SEA6 area.

Palaeolithic archaeological sites as old as 225,000 years Before Present (BP) occur at locations on the Welsh coast, with a great density of sites from the later Mesolithic and Neolithic. Some sites therefore pre-date the last interglacial high sea level, and although they were covered by the Devensian ice sheet, material inside caves survived.

Pipe entrenching is the process in the oil and gas industry most likely to disturb prehistoric archaeological deposits. Commercial site investigation using acoustics and coring could provide beneficial new archaeological data. The paper concludes with tentative suggestions for discussion of protocols and a reporting regime.

Tags: Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Maritime Archaeology (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). In this report maritime archaeology refers to archaeology based on the investigation of the remains of ships, boats, maritime infrastructure and such other material remains as provide insights into past societies by way of their seafaring and sea-use. Archaeological issues relating to the wrecks of aircraft are not included.

After summarising the legislative framework applicable to maritime archaeology, e.g. Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, the history of maritime activity in the Irish Sea from the Palaeolithic times to the present day is reviewed. Examples of historic wrecks, some found in recent years by divers, are given. The spatial distribution of maritime archaeological remains is considered and the possible impacts of oil and gas activities are described. The report concludes with an outline of the methods used in investigating maritime archaeological remains.

Tags: Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA8 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEATrax Xplorer SEA7 Phase I - geophysical survey (English Channel)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) a geophysical survey was undertaken from SeaTrax Xplorer in the vicinity of Portland Bill. Multibeam and sidescan sonar data were collected.

Tags: Geology, Hydrography
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Benthos. Synthesis of information on the benthos of area SEA6 (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report provides a synthesis of current knowledge of the benthic communities and seabed habitats in the SEA6 area. The area is a predominantly shallow, well flushed, fully saline, partially enclosed, temperate sea. The seabed is predominantly sedimentary, ranging between mud and cobbles but consisting mainly of sand. The coastal fringe hosts excellent examples of a broad range of habitat types including exposed rocky shores, sheltered rias, highly productive sand flats, estuaries and areas exposed to rapid tidal currents. This diverse range of habitats supports a broad range of animals and plants with numerous species.

The focus of the report is on dominant species and broad descriptions of community types (biotopes). The benthos associated with the littoral (intertidal) and sublittoral zones from the Mull of Kintyre and the Northern Irish coast in the north to Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire in the south are discussed. This area includes the important industrial estuaries of Morecambe, Liverpool and the Mersey, together with a number of minor estuaries, and the major islands of Anglesey and the Isle of Man. The deep water (depth greater than 50 m) and offshore areas are also discussed.

Where appropriate, details of rare or unusual species are included, together with the threat offered by oil and gas related activities. Other major human activities in the SEA6 area that are currently affecting the benthos are also discussed.

Tags: Habitats and biotopes, Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Boating.  Identifying recreational cruising routes, sailing and racing areas within the SEA 6 area (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). Historically there has not been a database of recreational use of the UK's marine environment. This lack of information was highlighted by the SEA which was carried out for the three strategic wind farm development areas: the Thames Estuary, Greater Wash and the North West (Liverpool Bay). In response the RYA published a document in 2004 entitled Sharing the Wind, which provided information on recreational boating in these strategic areas for consideration during the planning, design and approval process for wind farms. This report extends the work undertaken in Sharing the Wind to the SEA6 region.

The report provides information on cruising routes, general sailing and racing areas, anchorage areas, the intensity with which each route is used, and the location and size of shore based facilities. The work was produced as a result of consultation with a large number of clubs, regional committees and local experts throughout the SEA6 area, which are listed in the back of the report. There are a total of 143 clubs within 2 miles of the coast, with an estimated membership of 37,000, that use the SEA6 region for boating activities.

Tags: Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Cephalopods - An Overview of Cephalopods Relevant to the SEA 6 Area (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). Cephalopods are short-lived molluscs, characterised by rapid growth rates, and are important predators and prey in oceanic and neritic environments. They are active predators at all stages of their life-cycle and generally regarded as opportunistic, taking a wide variety of prey. Cannibalism has been frequently recorded in cephalopod species. Cephalopods also sustain a number of marine top predators such as fish, birds and marine mammals, especially whales. Many species are powerful swimmers and carry out vast feeding and spawning migrations, thus influencing prey and predator communities strongly on a seasonal and regional basis.

As cephalopods are important elements in food webs they interact with commercial fisheries of finfish. Evidence exists that fishing pressure has changed ecological conditions and shifts in community structures have occurred with cephalopod stocks slowly replacing predatory fish stocks. Their commercial significance to world fisheries is of relatively recent, but growing, importance. From a commercial point of view, the most important cephalopod species in the SEA6 area is Loligo forbesi, which is landed as a by-catch of the demersal trawl fishery (82 tonnes in 2002). But the species Alloteuthis subulata, although of no commercial value, has an important ecological role in the coastal food webs, since it is the most commonly recorded cephalopod species in the stomach contents of demersal fish in UK waters.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Conservation (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). An integral element of any environmental assessment for offshore oil and gas development, and for possible nearshore renewable energy proposals, is a review of potential sites of conservational importance within the region of interest. For the purpose of SEA 6, this is especially important given the scale of the area (over 400 km from the tip of SW Wales to the Mull of Kintyre); its division into five separate states/provinces, each with their own nature conservation authorities and some differences in nature conservation legislation; the fact that it includes a very considerable length of coastal zone and that a very large proportion of those coasts are designated as nature conservation sites. 

The report identifies and locates coastal and nearshore sites within the SEA 6 area which are protected by international, national and local conservation designations. The sites are briefly described and the reasons for their protected status are given. For internationally important sites, summary information describing the main features of the site is provided and there is also an assessment of the vulnerability of the site and any relevant management issues. The ordering of the national sites does not imply any formal ranking, but is a relative judgement of their conservation importance.

Tags: Protected sites Sea regions
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Contaminants.  A review of the contaminant status of the Irish Sea

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report considers the major sources of contamination to the Irish Sea from offshore energy installations and puts them in the context of other sources of contamination to the region. The report also considers contamination of the wider environment, making use of data provided by monitoring programmes and other specific studies. 

The oil and gas industry in the Irish Sea is small by comparison to that of the North Sea, but bears comparison to that of the Southern North Sea which is dominated by gas production and for which many of the platforms are in relatively shallow water. The discharge of production and drilling chemicals, residual oil and compounds derived from the formation water co-produced with the oil or gas contribute to the contamination concentration in sediments and water. However, in Liverpool Bay and Morecambe Bay, where the oil and gas fields are located, the riverine inputs of major groups of organic contaminants and metals are found to be several orders of magnitude greater than those from the offshore oil and gas industry.

Inputs of artificial radionuclides into the Irish Sea are dominated by discharges from Sellafield on the Cumbrian coast. The distribution of radionuclides in seawater, in the sediment and in biota are reviewed.

Tags: Geology, Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Economics and Social Baseline Study (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This "Economic and Social Baseline Study" provides baseline information on the key economic activities in the SEA 6 area, namely: offshore oil and gas; offshore wind farms; ports, ferries and other shipping services; fishing; tourism; other marine-related activities. A separate report (SEA6 Socio Economics) by the same authors assesses the socio-economic implications of further oil and gas licensing in the SEA6 area.

Tags: Energy resources, Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Socio-economics. The potential socio-economic implications of licensing the SEA6 area (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). The report assesses the socio-economic implications of further oil and gas licensing the SEA 6 area. The Department of Trade and Industry provided scenarios of possible exploration and development activity in the area and these scenarios were converted into optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. They were then used to produce forecasts of: oil and gas production; oil and gas reserves; expenditure; employment; and tax revenues. The implications for existing facilities in the area are discussed and the potential social impacts. An underpinning report, Economic and Social Baseline Study, is also available.

Tags: Energy resources, Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Fishing - Provision of Fishing Activity Data (Irish Sea)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report deals with fishing activity in the SEA6 area over the period 1998 - 2003. The different types of fishing carried out are briefly described and the fishing effort is presented in annual and seasonal maps for the area, based on data acquired by aerial surveillance by regular British Fishery Protection flights. The major fleets in the Irish Sea are otter trawlers, beam trawlers, scallop trawlers and potters.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Gas related seabed structures of the Western Irish Sea

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report provides an overview of all the relevant data concerning methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) and other features associated with shallow gas and seabed fluid flow in the Irish sector of the western Irish Sea. The report complements the MDAC report produced for the SEA6 area by Dr A. G. Judd.

Tags: Geology
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)