Paul Eastwood, Stuart Rogers, Carla Houghton, Craig Mills, and John Aldridge

1
Assessment of Pressure from Human Activities on
Marine Landscapes

• Paul Eastwood, Stuart Rogers, Carla Houghton,
  Craig Mills, and John Aldridge
• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture
  Science (Cefas)
• Lowestoft, UK

UK Workshop on the project Mapping European
Seabed Habitats (MESH) 19 October 2006, City
Conference Centre, London
2
Human activities

• Diversity of human activities that interact with
  the seabed in UK offshore waters
• Oil and gas exploration drilling
• Marine mineral dredging
• Fishing
• Windfarms
• Dredge material disposal
• Each exerts one or more different types of
  pressure

3
Pressure categories
Category Type Example sources
Physical loss Smothering Obstruction Waste disposal, oil gas cuttings piles Permanent constructions (oil gas infrastructure, windfarms, cables) wrecks
Physical damage Siltation Abrasion Extraction Screening plumes from aggregate dredging Windfarm scour pits Aggregate dredging
Non-physical disturbance Noise Visual Boat activity, seismic Recreational activity
Toxic contamination Introduction of synthetic compounds Introduction of non-synthetic compounds Introduction of radionuclides Pesticides, antifoulants Heavy metals, hydrocarbons Nuclear energy industry
Non-toxic contamination Nutrient enrichment Organic enrichment Changes in thermal regime Changes in turbidity Changes in salinity Agricultural run-off, outfalls Mariculture, outfalls Outfalls, power stations Run-off, dredging Water abstraction, outfalls
Biological disturbance Introduction of microbial pathogens Introduction of non-native species and translocations Selective extraction of species Aquaculture Ballast water Commercial fishing
Taken from proposal for a EU marine strategy
directive
4
Pressure by marine landscapes
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Pressure assessment

• Aim was to estimate direct pressure on the seabed
  from all major offshore human activities and the
  extent to which marine landscapes are affected
• Spatial extent England and Wales waters
• Time period 2004
• Measure of pressure spatial extent or
  footprint of the activity
• Did not estimate intensity of pressure
  presence/absence only

6
Methodology

1. Obtained spatial data for human activities
2. Where necessary, estimated location of activity
3. Where necessary, estimated spatial extent of
   associated pressure(s)

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Methodology
Physical damage - extraction

1. Obtained spatial data for human activities
2. Where necessary, estimated location of activity
3. Where necessary, estimated spatial extent of
   associated pressure(s)

?
X
X
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Methodology
Physical damage - siltation

1. Obtained spatial data for human activities
2. Where necessary, estimated location of activity
3. Where necessary, estimated spatial extent of
   associated pressure(s)

?
X
?
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Confidence rating

• Degree to which pressure estimates derived from
  georeferenced observations or estimates of
  location and/or extent
• 1 estimated location and extent
• 2 known location, estimated extent
• 3 known location and extent

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Spatial extent of pressure
Pressure Pressure Human activity Confidence rating England Wales England Wales
Category Type Human activity Confidence rating Area km2 total area
Physical loss Obstruction Oil and gas fixed infrastructure (platforms, well, and pipelines) 2-3 5.4 lt0.1
Cables 2 3.8 lt0.1
Windfarm monopiles and scour protection 3 lt0.1 lt0.1
Wrecks 2 4.3 lt0.1
Total 2 13.5 lt0.1
Physical loss Smothering Oil and gas cuttings piles 2 923.6 0.4
Waste disposal 2 126.2 lt0.1
Total 2 1 049.8 0.4
Physical damage Abrasion Windfarm scour pits 2 0.7 lt0.1
Physical damage Extraction Aggregate extraction - direct removal 3 134.5 0.1
Physical damage Siltation Aggregate extraction - plumes 2 2 994.8 1.2
Biological disturbance Selective extraction Fishing with mobile seabed gear 1-2 13 901.9 (55 503.9) 5.4 (21.4)
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Spatial extent of pressure
Pressure Pressure Human activity Confidence rating England Wales England Wales
Category Type Human activity Confidence rating Area km2 total area
Physical loss Obstruction Oil and gas fixed infrastructure (platforms, well, and pipelines) 2-3 5.4 lt0.1
Cables 2 3.8 lt0.1
Windfarm monopiles and scour protection 3 lt0.1 lt0.1
Wrecks 2 4.3 lt0.1
Total 2 13.5 lt0.1
Physical loss Smothering Oil and gas cuttings piles 2 923.6 0.4
Waste disposal 2 126.2 lt0.1
Total 2 1 049.8 0.4
Physical damage Abrasion Windfarm scour pits 2 0.7 lt0.1
Physical damage Extraction Aggregate extraction - direct removal 3 134.5 0.1
Physical damage Siltation Aggregate extraction - plumes 2 2 994.8 1.2
Biological disturbance Selective extraction Fishing with mobile seabed gear 1-2 13 901.9 (55 503.9) 5.4 (21.4)
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Spatial extent of pressure
Pressure Pressure Human activity Confidence rating England Wales England Wales
Category Type Human activity Confidence rating Area km2 total area
Physical loss Obstruction Oil and gas fixed infrastructure (platforms, well, and pipelines) 2-3 5.4 lt0.1
Cables 2 3.8 lt0.1
Windfarm monopiles and scour protection 3 lt0.1 lt0.1
Wrecks 2 4.3 lt0.1
Total 2 13.5 lt0.1
Physical loss Smothering Oil and gas cuttings piles 2 923.6 0.4
Waste disposal 2 126.2 lt0.1
Total 2 1 049.8 0.4
Physical damage Abrasion Windfarm scour pits 2 0.7 lt0.1
Physical damage Extraction Aggregate extraction - direct removal 3 134.5 0.1
Physical damage Siltation Aggregate extraction - plumes 2 2 994.8 1.2
Biological disturbance Selective extraction Fishing with mobile seabed gear 1-2 13 901.9 (55 503.9) 5.4 (21.4)
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Spatial extent of pressure
Pressure Pressure Human activity Confidence rating England Wales England Wales
Category Type Human activity Confidence rating Area km2 total area
Physical loss Obstruction Oil and gas fixed infrastructure (platforms, well, and pipelines) 2-3 5.4 lt0.1
Cables 2 3.8 lt0.1
Windfarm monopiles and scour protection 3 lt0.1 lt0.1
Wrecks 2 4.3 lt0.1
Total 2 13.5 lt0.1
Physical loss Smothering Oil and gas cuttings piles 2 923.6 0.4
Waste disposal 2 126.2 lt0.1
Total 2 1 049.8 0.4
Physical damage Abrasion Windfarm scour pits 2 0.7 lt0.1
Physical damage Extraction Aggregate extraction - direct removal 3 134.5 0.1
Physical damage Siltation Aggregate extraction - plumes 2 2 994.8 1.2
Biological disturbance Selective extraction Fishing with mobile seabed gear 1-2 13 901.9 (55 503.9) 5.4 (21.4)
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Spatial extent of pressure
Pressure Pressure Human activity Confidence rating England Wales England Wales
Category Type Human activity Confidence rating Area km2 total area
Physical loss Obstruction Oil and gas fixed infrastructure (platforms, well, and pipelines) 2-3 5.4 lt0.1
Cables 2 3.8 lt0.1
Windfarm monopiles and scour protection 3 lt0.1 lt0.1
Wrecks 2 4.3 lt0.1
Total 2 13.5 lt0.1
Physical loss Smothering Oil and gas cuttings piles 2 923.6 0.4
Waste disposal 2 126.2 lt0.1
Total 2 1 049.8 0.4
Physical damage Abrasion Windfarm scour pits 2 0.7 lt0.1
Physical damage Extraction Aggregate extraction - direct removal 3 134.5 0.1
Physical damage Siltation Aggregate extraction - plumes 2 2 994.8 1.2
Biological disturbance Selective extraction Fishing with mobile seabed gear 1-2 13 901.9 (55 503.9) 5.4 (21.4)
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Spatial extent of pressure
Pressure Pressure Human activity Confidence rating England Wales England Wales
Category Type Human activity Confidence rating Area km2 total area
Physical loss Obstruction Oil and gas fixed infrastructure (platforms, well, and pipelines) 2-3 5.4 lt0.1
Cables 2 3.8 lt0.1
Windfarm monopiles and scour protection 3 lt0.1 lt0.1
Wrecks 2 4.3 lt0.1
Total 2 13.5 lt0.1
Physical loss Smothering Oil and gas cuttings piles 2 923.6 0.4
Waste disposal 2 126.2 lt0.1
Total 2 1 049.8 0.4
Physical damage Abrasion Windfarm scour pits 2 0.7 lt0.1
Physical damage Extraction Aggregate extraction - direct removal 3 134.5 0.1
Physical damage Siltation Aggregate extraction - plumes 2 2 994.8 1.2
Biological disturbance Selective extraction Fishing with mobile seabed gear 1-2 13 901.9 (55 503.9) 5.4 (21.4)
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Proportion of seabed affected
Area affected ()
0.01
0.1
1.0
10
100
50
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Pressure () by landscape
Landscape Name Selective Extraction Abrasion Extraction Obstruction Siltation Smothering
Aphotic rock 1.4 0 0.10 0.01 7.22 0.04
Barrier beach 0 0 0 0.02 0 0
Bay 0.1 0 0 0.01 0 0.21
Canyon 0.3 0 0 0 0 0
Embayment 0.1 0 0 0.05 0 0
Estuary 0 0 0.12 0.02 4.49 0.51
Lagoon 0 0 0 0 0 0
Photic rock 2.2 0 0 0.02 0 0
Ria 0.1 0 0 0.04 0 0
Shallow coarse sediment plain - moderate tide stress 2.1 0 0.33 0.01 6.55 0.48
Shallow coarse sediment plain - strong tide stress 1.2 0 0.52 0.01 6.84 0.14
Shallow coarse sediment plain - weak tide stress 7.0 0 0.02 0 0.54 0.62
Shallow mixed sediment plain - moderate tide stress 2.0 0 0.12 0.01 2.80 0.48
Shallow mixed sediment plain - strong tide stress 2.6 0 0 0.01 0.05 0.10
Shallow mixed sediment plain - weak tide stress 2.6 0.01 0 0.01 0 0.70
Shallow mud plain 0.8 0 0 0.01 0.55 0.88
Shallow sand plain 4.5 0 0.06 0.01 1.26 0.90
Shelf coarse sediment plain - moderate tide stress 3.1 0 0.13 0.01 3.91 0.34
Shelf coarse sediment plain - strong tide stress 1.0 0 0.21 0.01 3.52 0.01
Shelf coarse sediment plain - weak tide stress 22.9 0 0 0 0 0.09
Shelf mixed sediment plain - moderate tide stress 2.1 0 0.06 0.01 4.90 0.04
Shelf mixed sediment plain - strong tide stress 1.8 0 0 0 2.55 0.41
Shelf mixed sediment plain - weak tide stress 8.0 0 0 0.01 0 0.27
Shelf mound or pinnacle 0.7 0 0 0 0 0
Shelf mud plain 2.6 0 0 0 0 0.09
Shelf sand plain 5.3 0 0 0 0.19 0.34
Shelf trough 2.8 0 0 0 0.30 1.11
Sound 0 0 0 0.05 0 0
Subtidal sediment bank 1.6 0 0 0 0.38 2.28
Warm deep-water coarse sediment plain 1.2 0 0 0 0 0
Warm deep-water sand plain 0.8 0 0 0 0 0
Total for EW waters 5.4 lt0.1 0.1 lt0.1 1.2 0.4
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Pressure () by landscape
Landscape Name Selective Extraction Abrasion Extraction Obstruction Siltation Smothering
Aphotic rock 1.4 0 0.10 0.01 7.22 0.04
Barrier beach 0 0 0 0.02 0 0
Bay 0.1 0 0 0.01 0 0.21
Canyon 0.3 0 0 0 0 0
Embayment 0.1 0 0 0.05 0 0
Estuary 0 0 0.12 0.02 4.49 0.51
Lagoon 0 0 0 0 0 0
Photic rock 2.2 0 0 0.02 0 0
Ria 0.1 0 0 0.04 0 0
Shallow coarse sediment plain - moderate tide stress 2.1 0 0.33 0.01 6.55 0.48
Shallow coarse sediment plain - strong tide stress 1.2 0 0.52 0.01 6.84 0.14
Shallow coarse sediment plain - weak tide stress 7.0 0 0.02 0 0.54 0.62
Shallow mixed sediment plain - moderate tide stress 2.0 0 0.12 0.01 2.80 0.48
Shallow mixed sediment plain - strong tide stress 2.6 0 0 0.01 0.05 0.10
Shallow mixed sediment plain - weak tide stress 2.6 0.01 0 0.01 0 0.70
Shallow mud plain 0.8 0 0 0.01 0.55 0.88
Shallow sand plain 4.5 0 0.06 0.01 1.26 0.90
Shelf coarse sediment plain - moderate tide stress 3.1 0 0.13 0.01 3.91 0.34
Shelf coarse sediment plain - strong tide stress 1.0 0 0.21 0.01 3.52 0.01
Shelf coarse sediment plain - weak tide stress 22.9 0 0 0 0 0.09
Shelf mixed sediment plain - moderate tide stress 2.1 0 0.06 0.01 4.90 0.04
Shelf mixed sediment plain - strong tide stress 1.8 0 0 0 2.55 0.41
Shelf mixed sediment plain - weak tide stress 8.0 0 0 0.01 0 0.27
Shelf mound or pinnacle 0.7 0 0 0 0 0
Shelf mud plain 2.6 0 0 0 0 0.09
Shelf sand plain 5.3 0 0 0 0.19 0.34
Shelf trough 2.8 0 0 0 0.30 1.11
Sound 0 0 0 0.05 0 0
Subtidal sediment bank 1.6 0 0 0 0.38 2.28
Warm deep-water coarse sediment plain 1.2 0 0 0 0 0
Warm deep-water sand plain 0.8 0 0 0 0 0
Total for EW waters 5.4 lt0.1 0.1 lt0.1 1.2 0.4
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Pressure () by landscape
Selective extraction pressure on Shelf coarse
sediment plain - weak tide stress
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Summary

• Geospatial data for human activities can be used
  to estimate pressure on marine landscapes
• Understanding pressures by landscapes could help
  in
• designing MPA networks
• setting management objectives
• Next steps
• pressure intensity
• time series assessment