Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation,
Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YH
Tel: 0191 376 2629/2677
Fax: 0191 376 2681
Email: conservation@marinemanagement.org.uk
Filling out this form
You can either:
- print this form and fill out the relevant fields using block capitals and in black ink or
- fill out the relevant fields on screen, then print out the form.
You may add sheets for additional information - please cross-reference these.
The form must then be signed and returned to the above email address.
Voluntary notification of intent to carry out geophysical
(including seismic) surveys
This form allows developers to receive comments about the impacts of proposed geophyical (including
seismic) surveys from stakeholders and interested parties. Natural England (within the 12 nautical mile
boundary) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee will consider the environmental aspects. It will
also help to facilitate the wider monitoring of noisy activities in the marine environment.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will circulate and compile any feedback received. The
developer can consider the feedback when planning surveys.
We recommend that you submit the form at least 28 days before the survey starts. We also encourage
developers to put in place a notice to mariners and submit details of the survey to the fortnightly Kingfisher
Bulletin, currently maintained by SeaFish.
European protected species
A European protected species (EPS) stage 1 risk assessment is required to show that the proposal does not
carry a risk of disturbance or injury to any EPS. This assessment should not be demanding but should
acknowledge that there could be a risk of an effect on a EPS and provide an audit trail that the activity has
been assessed.
This form does not remove the duty of the developer to get other relevant consents.
Data Protection Act 1998
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) complies with these principles in all matters relating to the
processing and storing of personal information. The MMO is the data controller in respect of any personal
data that you provide when you complete this form.
The MMO may have to release information, including personal and commercial information, on request
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, but we will
not allow an unwarranted breach of confidentiality or will we act in contravention of our obligations under
the Data Protection Act 1998. We may use your personal details to contact you in connection with similar
services or customer research aimed at improving the service that we provide.
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1. Contact details
Name
Organisation/Company name
Full postal address (including
post code)
Telephone number (including area code)
Email address
2. Purpose or background to survey
3. Survey dates
Earliest start date
Latest end date
Estimated number of working days
4. Survey location
A map (A4 size) should be provided, showing the survey and greater working area and, if appropriate, the
survey sail (transect) lines.
Location (such as Southern North Sea)
Minimum distance from nearest coastline
Approximate geographical co-ordinates and datum for corners of survey area
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Survey area (square kilometres)
Approximate geographical co-ordinates and datum for corners of greater work area (if different)
Greater work area (square kilometres)
Total sail (transect) line length (km) - if appropriate
Sail (transect) line spacing (metres) - if appropriate
5. Type of survey
Type
Multi-beam and side scan sonar
Sub-bottom profiling (pingers,
boomers, sparkers and chirp)
Reservoir
Regional
Site
OBC or OBS
Multi-component 4C (shear wave
measurement)
Marine vibroseis
Refraction
Vertical seismic profile (VSP) or
borehole seismic
Gravity surveys
Magnetic surveys
Shallow drilling operations
Other geographical seabed
seismic surveys not covered by
the above
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Details
6. Details of survey equipment
Seismic surveys
Energy source type
Energy source volume (cubic inches)
Estimated sound level at 1 metre over Sound exposure level (SEL)
frequency band 10 Hz to 10 kHz
Sound pressure level
dB re1µPa2s
dB re1µPapeak
Shot interval (seconds)
Number of cables
Length of towed equipment, including tail buoys (metres)
Width of towed equipment (metres)
Depth of towed equipment (metres)
Other surveys or operations
Survey type
Estimated sound level at 1 metre over Sound exposure level (SEL)
the dominant frequency band
Sound pressure level
Specify dominant frequency band
Brief description of equipment
7. Details of vessel(s)
Number of vessels involved
Name(s)
Tonnage(s)
Registrations(s)
Call sign(s)
Vessel's role (source, guard)
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dB re1µPa2s
dB re1µPapeak
8. Environmental information
Will surveys be carried out in or adjacent to marine protected areas? If yes, identify site, provide a brief
description and state distance to project.
Does the survey area and timing coincide with any fish or shellfish spawning or nursery
sensitivities? If yes, please provide details.
9. European protected species stage 1 risk assessment
A European protected species (EPS) stage 1 risk assessment is required to show that the proposal does not
carry a risk of distrubance or injury to any EPS. If an assessment has been carried out in a separate report or is
included in the environmental impact assessment, please provide this with this form. If not, please complete
the information below.The level of detail required depends on the potential risk. The Joint Nature
Conservation Committee (JNCC) have produced guidance in relation to the EPS stage 1 risk assessment and
the likely risk of different types of geophysical surveys can be found in the draft guidance 'The protection of
marine European protected species from injury and disturbance - Guidance for the marine area in England
and Wales and the UK offshore marine area'. Please contact us if you require a copy of this document.
Please select this box if you have attached any extra information
a) Intensity and frequency of sound
Intensity and frequency
Extent of area where injury or disturbance thresholds could be exceeded (see JNCC's guidance)
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Explain how potential injury or disturbance will be mitigated
b) In-combination effects
Interaction with known concurrent, preceding or subsequent noise producing activities
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c) Likelihood of exposure
Known cetacean populations and likely densities
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10. Mitigation or liaison (see JNCC's guidance)
Have discussions taken place with other licencees if survey overlaps, or extends into, an area
licensed by any third party, including renewable licences? Please provide details and whether
permission was granted by those licencees.
Have discussion taken place with relevant statutory nature conservation bodies? Please state which
bodies were involved and when discussions took place.
Have you made arrangements for a marine mammal observer or observers? If yes, please state which
organisation will provide them and how many will be provided.
Have you made arrangements for passive acoustic monitoring (PAM)? If yes, please state which
organisation will provide this and how many operators will be provided.
Have discussions taken place with fisheries organisations? If yes, please provide details including
which organisations were involved and when discussions took place.
Have you arranged a fisheries liaison? If yes, please state which organisation will provide this and how
many staff will be provided.
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11. Declaration
I have read and understand the guidance provided with this application form. I declare to the best of my
knowledge and belief that the information given in this form and related papers is correct.
Signature ____________________________________________
Name (in capital letters)
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Date __________________