Appropriate Assessment Report
Assessment of the likely effects of the installation of a fibre optic cable in Killala Bay on
the Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SAC (Site Code 000458) and the Killala Bay / Moy Estuary
SPA (Site Code 004036).
Project Description:
In February 2015 America Europe Connect Ltd submitted an application for a Foreshore Licence
to facilitate the installation of a subsea fibre optic telecommunications cable on the foreshore.
The works are part of a project involving the installation of a subsea fibre optic cable system,
5,250km in length, extending from Long Island in the USA to Ireland with landfall at Ross
village in Killala Bay, Co. Mayo. It is intended that the subsea cable would be linked via an onshore cable network in Ireland with further high capacity links to the UK and mainland Europe.
The proposed cable route on the foreshore is shown on Drawing No. 1251-207 entitled
“Foreshore Licence Map”, dated 29/02/2015 submitted by the applicant.
Details are also shown on the following Drawings submitted by the applicant:
 Drawing No. 1251-204, entitled “Mainlay Offshore Route”, dated 16/02/2015
 Drawing No. 1251-205, entitled “Mainlay Inshore Route”, dated 16/02/2015
 Drawing No. 1251-206, entitled “Mainlay Landfall ”, dated 16/02/2015
Details of the proposed cable installation route and methodology are provided in the document
entitled “Application for Foreshore Licence for main-lay installation of America Europe Connect
Fibre Optic Cable: Planning Report” dated February 2015, prepared by MDM Consultants and
submitted by the applicant.
Part of the proposed cable route in the inshore area within Killala Bay, from approximately KP1
to landfall, lies within the Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SAC (Site Code 000458) and the Killala
Bay / Moy Estuary SPA (Site Code 004036).
Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SAC
North of Ballina town, the River Moy flows to the sea via a long, narrow estuarine channel.
After approximately 8 km, the estuary widens to form a north-facing triangular bay, with the
towns of Inishcrone (Co. Sligo) and Killala (Co. Mayo) situated on the eastern and western
shores, respectively. The estuary itself forms the County boundary along its northern part. A long
sandy island (Bartragh Island) separates the south-western side of the bay from the open water.
Much of the inner part of the bay is intertidal. The northern part shelves to approximately -10 m.
Extensive sandflats and mudflats are exposed in the estuary and bay at low tide. For the most
part, these flats are unvegetated, but mats of Eelgrass (Zostera spp.), Beaked Tasselweed (Ruppia
maritima) and green algae (Enteromorpha spp.) occur which provide important feeding material
for birds. The dune systems at Bartragh Island, Inishcrone and Ross, to the north-west, are welldeveloped and constitute good examples of dunes with a rich and diverse flora. Dunes
dominated by Marram (Ammophila arenaria) are located at all three sub-sites. At Enniscrone
they stretch the length of the strand and are particularly well developed towards the western end.
They are found along the northern stretch of Ross and also run the length of Bartragh Island.
Saltmarshes are present in sheltered parts of the site, some of which occur in association with the
dune systems. Elsewhere along the coastline are sandy beaches, shingle beaches and some
bedrock shores which are occasionally backed by clay sea-cliffs. The site holds populations of
three species listed on Annex II of the E.U. Habitats Directive: Common Seal, Sea Lamprey and
Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail (Vertigo angustior). The site is very important for wintering
waterfowl, with eight species having populations of national importance. This composite site
has an excellent range of good quality coastal habitats, including a number listed on Annex I of
the E.U. Habitats Directive. In particular, the dune complex at Bartragh Island is relatively
undisturbed and is considered to be one of the best in the country in terms of its naturalness and
intact state. The presence of the Annex II snail, Vertigo angustior, and the importance of the area
for wintering waterfowl, including two Annex I Birds Directive species, adds further significance
to this area.
The site is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) selected for the following habitats and/or
species listed on Annex I / II of the E.U. Habitats Directive












Estuaries
Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide
Annual Vegetation of Drift Lines
Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand
Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco‐ Puccinellietalia maritimae)
Embryonic Shifting Dunes
Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ('white dunes')
Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation ('grey dunes')*
Humid Dune Slacks
Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail (Vertigo angustior)
Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina)
As set out in the NPWS (2012)1 the Conservation Objectives for this site are to:






1
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Narrowmouthed Whorl Snail
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Sea Lamprey
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Estuaries
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Mudflats and sandflats not covered by
seawater at low tide
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Annual vegetation of drift lines
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Salicornia and other annuals
colonizing mud and sand
NPWS (2012) Conservation Objectives: Killala Bay/Moy Estuary SAC 000458. Version 1.0. National Parks and
Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.






maintain the favourable conservation condition of Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco
Puccinellietalia)
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Harbour Seal
restore the favourable conservation condition of Embryonic shifting dunes
restore the favourable conservation condition of Shifting dunes along the shoreline with
Ammophila arenaria (white dunes)
restore the favourable conservation condition of Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous
vegetation (grey dunes)
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Humid dune slacks
Impact of Project on key species and key habitats
There is no spatial overlap between the proposed cable route and the following habitats / species
within the SAC








Estuaries
Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand
Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco Puccinellietalia maritimae)
Embryonic Shifting Dunes
Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ('white dunes')
Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation ('grey dunes')*
Humid Dune Slacks
Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail (Vertigo angustior)
Considering the location, nature and scale of the proposed works no direct or indirect effects are
therefore considered likely on these species / habitats.
There could be some impact as a result of the digging of the trench in the intertidal area on
“Mudflats and sandflats” habitats. The impacts, however, will be temporary and localised and
given the dynamic nature of the environment in the area significant impacts are not considered
likely. The maximum area of this habitat that could be impacted is circa 0.5Ha which represents
< 0.4% of the area of this habitat with the SAC. There will be no impacts on sensitive species
e.g. Zostrea within this habitat. Zostrea dominated communities are located circa 6Km from the
cable route. There will be no habitat or species fragmentation.
Cable installation could disturb the migratory pattern of Sea Lamprey. The proposed timing of
the works in August will, however, minimise / obviate any such impacts. IFI have indicated that
impacts on Sea Lamprey are not considered likely.
There are number of Harbour Seal breeding, moulting and resting sites located within the SAC
but these are located circa 5Km southeast of the cable route and therefore direct impacts on these
sensitive areas are not considered likely. Additionally full compliance t with the requirements set
out in the NPWS Document “Guidance to Manage the Risk to Marine Mammals from Man-made
Sound Sources in Irish Waters” (January 2014) in respect of the cable installation activity on the
foreshore will minimise any interactions with Harbour Seals both within and outside the
boundaries of the SAC. The full implementation of this mitigation measure will also ensure that
interactions with and impacts on other marine mammals and cetaceans that may be present in the
area during the works will be minimised and will not be significant.
There will be no direct discharge of pollutants into the environment during the works. Provided
that appropriate methods of operation are adopted in order to ensure that no spillages of fuel,
hydrocarbons, cement or other leakages to the aquatic environment occur during the
Construction Phase. . On this basis it is considered that water quality will not be affected.
Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SPA
This large site comprises the estuary if the River Moy and the inner part of Killala Bay, Cos
Mayo and Sligo. It is a funnel-shaped estuary, c. 7 km wide at its outer limit. It is very well
sheltered by a sandy island, Bartragh Island, that extends across much of the outer part, and by a
sandy peninsula that extends from Enniscrone on the eastern side. Extensive intertidal sand and
mud flats are exposed at low tide. The site is very important for wintering waterfowl and
supports an excellent diversity of species. It provides excellent feeding grounds for the birds, as
well as high-tide roosts. Six species have populations of national importance: Ringed Plover,
Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit. A range of other species have
populations of regional or local importance, including Red-throated Diver, Brent Goose,
Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Lapwing),
Curlew, Redshank and Greenshank. The site is also used by Mallard, Turnstone, Grey Heron and
Cormorant. At times, the numbers of Brent Geese exceed the threshold for International
Importance (>200). Substantial numbers of gulls are present in the site during winter, including
Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull and Great Blackbacked Gull.
The Qualifying Interests for this site are:









Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina alpine)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Redshank (Tringa tetanus)
Wetlands
As set out in NPWS (2013)2 the Conservation Objective for this site are to:



2
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Ringed Plover
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Golden Plover
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Grey Plover
NPWS (2013) Conservation Objectives: Killala Bay/Moy Estuary SPA 004036. Version 1. National Parks and
Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.






maintain the favourable conservation condition of Sanderling
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Dunlin
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Bar-tailed Godwit
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Curlew
maintain the favourable conservation condition of Redshank
maintain the favourable conservation condition of wetland habitat in Killala Bay/Moy
Estuary SPA as a resource for the regularly occurring migratory waterbirds that utilise it.
During the winter the site regularly supports 1% or more of the all-Ireland population of the bird
species listed above NPWS (2013a) 3. Additionally the wetland habitats contained within Killala
Bay/Moy Estuary SPA are identified of conservation importance for non-breeding (wintering)
migratory waterbirds. Therefore the wetland habitats are considered to be an additional Special
Conservation Interest. The proposed timing of the works in August will ensure that works are
carried out and completed outside of the key winter period and thus interactions with wintering
birds will be minimal.
There will be no significant impact on wetland habitats and habitat or species fragmentation will
not occur. There are no areas of saltmarsh or habitats of a similar nature located in the works
area and no significant loss of potential feeding area for waterbirds will occur. There will be no
direct discharge of pollutants into the environment during the works and water quality will not be
affected.
The overall integrity of the site will not be affected.
Conclusion
Based on the above it is concluded that the installation of a fibre optic cable in Killala Bay will
not have a significant adverse impact on the Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SAC (Site Code 000458)
and the Killala Bay / Moy Estuary SPA (Site Code 004036).A and that the integrity of these sites
will not be affected.
Prepared by Marine Institute, on behalf of the MLVC
08 July 2015
3
NPWS (2013a) Conservation Objectives Supporting Document, Version 1, National Parks and
Wildlife Service, May 2013