2004-2006, EMU, Kentish Flats, Fisheries Comparative Study

As part of the monitoring programme stipulated within the FEPA Licence for the construction of the Kentish Flats windfarm development in the outer Thames estuary, Emu Ltd. was commissioned to perform a series of fisheries surveys. The surveys were intended to establish baseline conditions and to subsequently determine changes in individual species populations on completion of the construction activities at the windfarm site. The fisheries surveys were undertaken on a seasonal basis and comprised of one-day surveys working out of Whitstable harbour aboard the commercially licensed trawler “Our Sarah Jayne”. The surveys comprised of trawls within specified areas within the windfarm and in outlying reference areas. Two types of trawl were used, a Triple-rig otter trawl, used to target bottom dwelling species, and a bass trawl used to target pelagic species.