Map of Scotland showing the Option Areas and regional boundaries for the Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy. Development of offshore wind energy should take account of the key considerations through project design, project level assessment and decision making. This interactive map highlights any key considerations specific to the regions present in the Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy.
The regions and associated Option Areas presented in the map include:
- West - W1, IN5
- North - N1, N2, N3, N4
- Shetland - NE1C, NE1B, NE1A
- North East - NE2, NE3, NE4, NE6, NE7, NE8, IN1, IN2, IN3, TOG6, TOG7, TOG9,
- East - E1A, E1B, E1C, E2A, E2B, E3, TOG10, TOG11, TOG12, TOG13
Key considerations for each region are listed below - these have been extracted from the "Key Considerations" of the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy.
West Region:
Key Environmental Risks: collision or displacement of resident seabirds and migratory birds, displacement of marine mammals, displacement and/or disruption to basking sharks, visual impact on landscape and coastal character and impact on navigational safety.
Key Socio-Economic Risks: disruption and displacement of Ministry of Defence training activity, increased fuel costs for recreational boating and commercial shipping, reduced tourism expenditure and reduction in water sports.
North
Key Environmental Risks: loss/damage of subtidal sands and gravels, displacement of marine mammals, collision/displacement of seabirds, visual impact on seascape and landscape, disruption to navigational safety and noise, vibration, light and shadow flicker effects to the west coast of Lewis.
Key Socio-Economic Risks: reduction in fishing activity by >12m vessels, increased fuel costs for shipping, reduction in tourism expenditure, reduction in recreational angling and reduction in water sports.
Shetland
Key Environmental Risks: loss/damage to reef habitats, collision or displacement of seabirds, displacement of marine mammals and disruption to navigational safety.
Key Socio-Economic Risks: reduction in fishing activity by vessels >12m, diversion of Maali interconnector cable route and reduction in recreational boating activity.
North East
Key Environmental Risks: loss/damage of reef habitats, loss/damage of offshore deep sea muds and seapen habitat, loss/damage to ocean quahog aggregations, collision or displacement of seabirds, displacement or barrier effects to benthic species, displacement of marine mammals and disruption to navigational safety.
Key Socio Economic Risks: reduction in fishing activity by vessels >12m, reduction in recreational boating activity, management of SHEFA-2 telecom cable route and reduction in tourism expenditure.
East
Key Environmental Risks: collision or displacement of seabirds, displacement of marine mammals, displacement of sandeel, loss/damage to ocean quahog aggregations and disruption to navigational safety.
Key Socio-Economic Risks: reduction in fishing activity by vessels >12m and diversion of the Eastern Green Link 3 cable route.
