Abstract
The Deep Green Project proposed for Holyhead Deep is a tidal power project under
development by Minesto Ltd. The Project will consist of three tidal generation units anchored to the seabed along with infrastructure such as an export cable to transfer power to shore and a subsea transformer.
As part of the application for consent to install the Project, an environmental impact
assessment is required, which in turn needs characterisation data of the seabed to inform the assessment. Xodus Group on behalf of Minesto have contracted CMACS Ltd to carry out benthic characterisation surveys in the project development area (PDA) and associated cable route corridor (CRC).
This report provides an initial assessment of the habitats and biotopes present in the survey
area (see Figure 1) using images of the seabed taken during the drop down camera survey. A later Environmental Baseline Report will characterise the sediments and infauna (from
grab samples), and refine the biotope classifications based on that data and the information
presented here.