Seal monitoring and evaluation for the Luchterduinen offshore wind farm: 2. Tconstruction - 2014 report

• Main Authors: Kirkwood, R.J., Aarts, G.M., Brasseur, S.M.J.M.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: IMARES 2015
• Subjects: construction; ecological disturbance; habitats; halichoerus grypus; human impact; monitoring; north sea; phoca vitulina; seals; wind farms; zuid-holland; constructie; ecologische verstoring; menselijke invloed; noordzee; windmolenpark; zeehonden; harbour seal; Phoca vitulina
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/seal-monitoring-and-evaluation-for-the-luchterduinen-offshore-win

Two seal species live in Dutch waters: the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). They occupy land-based sites (haul-outs) in both the Wadden Sea and the Delta region, and move between these regions along the North Sea coastal zone. Human activities, such as construction of a wind farm in this zone, may influence movement and use of the zone by the seals. Monitoring of potential impacts on seals to Luchterduinen construction was required in the permit to construct. The Luchterduinen offshore wind farm is the third wind farm development in the Dutch North Sea coastal zone (between Den Helder and Rotterdam). Pile-driving of the turbine towers occurred between 31 July and 16 October, 2014. Seals exposed to pile-driving, even at close distances of