Distribution of marine mammals in the North Sea for the generic appropriate assessment of future offshore wind farms

• Main Authors: Brasseur, S.M.J.M., Scheidat, M., Aarts, G.M., Cremer, J.S.M., Bos, O.G.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: IMARES 2008
• Subjects: adverse effects; aquatic animals; mammals; marine areas; windmills; mariene gebieden; nadelige gevolgen; waterdieren; windmolens; zoogdieren; common seal; Harbour porpoise; Lagenorhynchus albirostris; minke whale; Phoca vitulina; Phocoena phocoena; White-beaked dolphin
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/distribution-of-marine-mammals-in-the-north-sea-for-the-generic-a

The Dutch government has formulated the ambition to increase the generation of renewable energy, among others by increased exploitation of offshore wind farms in the North Sea. To compose the generic appropriate assessment, Deltares has asked IMARES to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the spatial and temporal use of the North Sea by marine mammals that are protected under the Habitat Directive Annex II: common seal (Phoca vitulina), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) . In addition, white beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and minke whale (Baleanoptera acutorostrata) are treated (Annex IV).