Marine Ecology

The import pipelines from the Laggan and Tormore reservoirs  make landfall in Orka Voe. This inlet forms part of the Sullom Voe SAC (Special Area of Conservation). This is a protected area established under European and UK legislation.

In the case of the Sullom Voe the SAC has been established to protect the shallow waters in the voe, the seabed habitat and Horse Mussels and other bottom dwelling fauna. The construction of the pipelines is further complicated by the Yell Sound Coast SAC which exists to protect the coastline and the otters and harbour seals that live there. Following consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage as part of the project approval process the Laggan-Tormore team has agreed working methods and a schedule that will control the impacts of the project on these environmentally sensitive areas. This includes agreeing a closed season for pipeline construction in inshore waters from the beginning of June to the end of August. Although this significantly reduces available working season from 6 months to just three it protects vulnerable harbour seals during pupping and moulting.

Dynamically positioned vessels are used to install the pipelines, eliminating the need for anchoring and hence damage to the seabed in the Sullom Voe SAC and potential hazards for fishermen.

Marine mammal observers are present on the coastline and pipeline construction vessels to ensure that cetaceans such as dolphins, whales and porpoises are protected from possible adverse impacts from the project.

The MMO's have seen some very promising results in the past year. More than 260 sightings of common seals were reported within Yell Sound, as well as 15 otter sightings. As seals began to haul out on the temporary  causeway area, seal pups were also seen in quite high numbers. No injured animals were found throughout the operations within the SAC.

Now that the site has been re-instated flora and fauna are beginning to return in equal numbers to that seen prior to the work commencing.