2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Technical Report - Sea Mammal Research - Background Information on Marine Mammals (Irish Sea)
type: Dataset
description: 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). Seven marine mammal species are known to occur regularly in the SEA6 area. A relatively small but fairly discrete population of grey seals utilises all but the northwest Irish Sea. Harbour seals are found primarily in the far north of the area. Harbour porpoises are seen year round throughout the area and bottlenose dolphins are present year round off Wales. Minke whales, Risso's dolphins and short-beaked common dolphins are regularly seen in summer mainly in the far south. The report discusses the distribution and abundance of these mammals and their ecological importance. Marine mammals make use of sound for a variety of purposes: finding prey, detecting predators, communication and probably navigation. The offshore oil and gas industry generates underwater noise at every stage of the process: during exploration seismic surveys, drilling, production and decommissioning. The effects of these different sources of underwater noise on marine mammals are discussed. The use of explosives for underwater cutting and demolition during the decommissioning of platforms and installations may pose a serious threat to some marine mammals. The effects of pollution on seals and cetaceans are discussed, including the effects of oil spills. The prevalence of disease among the marine mammal populations is reviewed.
keyword: Species distribution
issued: 2024-03-15T14:35:19.176215
modified: 2024-03-15T14:35:19.176219
spatial: Location
  geometry: {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-4, 51.7], [-6, 51.7], [-6, 55.3], [-4, 55.3], [-4, 51.7]]]}

British Geological Survey (BGS)
type: Organization

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) data portal
type: Distribution
description: The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) data portal provides free access to available data and reports which have been produced through the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change SEA process. The site is run and managed by BGS on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Many files can be downloaded directly from this website. Those that are too large to download can be ordered via the website for postal delivery from BGS.
format: HTML
access URL: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/data/sea/home.html
issued: 2024-03-15T14:35:19.177677
modified: 2024-03-15T14:35:19.171850