Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D11 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D11 Energy, incl. underwater noise
Member State Belgium
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Reported by FPS Science Policy, Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (Scientific Service MUMM, R
Report date 2020-10-29
Report access

Descriptor
D11
D11
Monitoring strategy description
For impulsive noise, activities that are expected to generate high levels are subjected to an environmental assessment and are monitored. Effects on fish and marine mammals are assessed. Where impacts are expected, mitigatitive and/or preventive measures are imposed. Monitoring is dependent on the activities (there are currently no plans to build new wind farms before 2026, so no piling activities are expected for the period 2020-2026). At the level of OSPAR, an impulsive noise register exists that includes data on time, area and, if available, noise levels. For ambient noise, an international project (JOMOPANS) was initiated to establish a methodology and set a current baseline.
For impulsive noise, activities that are expected to generate high levels are subjected to an environmental assessment and are monitored. Effects on fish and marine mammals are assessed. Where impacts are expected, mitigatitive and/or preventive measures are imposed. Monitoring is dependent on the activities (there are currently no plans to build new wind farms before 2026, so no piling activities are expected for the period 2020-2026). At the level of OSPAR, an impulsive noise register exists that includes data on time, area and, if available, noise levels. For ambient noise, an international project (JOMOPANS) was initiated to establish a methodology and set a current baseline.
Coverage of GES criteria
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018
Gaps and plans
No gaps.
No gaps.
Related targets
  • D11.T1
  • D11.T2
  • D11.T1
  • D11.T2
Coverage of targets
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018
Related measures
  • 1 - 'Report on Environmental Impacts (REI) and Adapted Evaluation (AE)'
  • 30 - 'Implementation of non-technical measures to limit the disturbance of marine mammals due to military activities'
  • 31 - 'Dialogue and raising awareness about the measures taken in the shipping sector in order to limit the underwater effects of noise on cetaceans'
  • 3E - 'Authorisation conditions in the wind farms area to limit the level of underwater noise during construction'
  • 3F - 'Follow-up during the construction and operation (hard substrates introduction, sub-marine noise, benthos, etc.)'
  • 7A - 'Ban on high speed ship traffic and exercises with helicopters at less than 500 feet in the SPA-O1 and SPA-O2 from 1 December to 15 March'
  • 7B - 'Ban on marine sport competition in SPA-01 and SPA-02'
  • 1 - 'Report on Environmental Impacts (REI) and Adapted Evaluation (AE)'
  • 30 - 'Implementation of non-technical measures to limit the disturbance of marine mammals due to military activities'
  • 31 - 'Dialogue and raising awareness about the measures taken in the shipping sector in order to limit the underwater effects of noise on cetaceans'
  • 3E - 'Authorisation conditions in the wind farms area to limit the level of underwater noise during construction'
  • 3F - 'Follow-up during the construction and operation (hard substrates introduction, sub-marine noise, benthos, etc.)'
  • 7A - 'Ban on high speed ship traffic and exercises with helicopters at less than 500 feet in the SPA-O1 and SPA-O2 from 1 December to 15 March'
  • 7B - 'Ban on marine sport competition in SPA-01 and SPA-02'
Coverage of measures
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018
Related monitoring programmes
  • ANSBE-P28-Noise-1-Impulsive
  • ANSBE-P29-Noise-2-Ambient
  • ANSBE-P28-Noise-1-Impulsive
  • ANSBE-P29-Noise-2-Ambient
Programme code
ANSBE-P28-Noise-1-Impulsive
ANSBE-P29-Noise-2-Ambient
Programme name
Monitoring of the offshore wind farms: Underwater noise
Energy, including underwater noise
Update type
Modified from 2014
Modified from 2014
Old programme codes
  • ANSBE-D11-Energy-SP29
  • ANSBE-D11-Energy-SP30
Programme description
The construction of wind turbines can generate high levels of underwater noise, depending on the technique used. During operational phase of the wind parks that may last for at least 20 years, lower but less known levels will be emitted in the environment. The monitoring, in place from 2008, aims at qualifying and quantifying these levels of underwater sound. Sound pressure, expressed in Pa, will be measured and the result will also be used to quantify the potential impact on marine biota. This programme contributes to environmental target D11.1. (Former programme ANSBE-D11-Energy-SP29)
Data gathering and analysis in relation to MSFD descriptor 11 (Trend in ambient noise) This programme contributes to the environmental target D11.2. (Former programme ANSBE-D11-Energy-SP30)
Monitoring purpose
  • Human activities causing the pressures
  • Human activities causing the pressures
Other policies and conventions
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
  • OSPAR
Regional cooperation - countries involved
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Agreed data collection methods
Monitoring details
Frequency of sampling: irregularly and inside a construction period
1) Start date: 1/1/2018 - Installation of a continuous measurement station at the Westhinder pile 2) Frequency of sampling: 78 kHz
Features
Impulsive sound in water
Continuous low frequency sound
Elements
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
GES criteria
D11C1
D11C2
Parameters
  • Level of sound
  • Underwater sound level
Parameter Other
Spatial scope
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
Marine reporting units
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
2008-9999
2018-9999
Monitoring frequency
As needed
Unknown
Monitoring type
  • Other
  • Other
Monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
Monitoring method other
Real time measurements of piling events, post-treatment by home made software. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2013/897624/
Recordings obtained from at least 1 moored station inside the BCP. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2013/897624/
Quality control
Unknown
Unknown
Data management
The rules for access rights to the data are determined by the construction and operating permits of the wind farms. The data is transmitted via BMDC's Data Tracking System, which makes it publicly accessible via RBINS' metadata catalogue (http://metadata.naturalsciences.be).
The data is transmitted through BMDC's Data Tracking System, which makes it publicly accessible via RBINS' metadata catalogue (http://metadata.naturalsciences.be).
Data access
Related indicator/name
Contact
Alain Norro, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (RBINS)
Alain Norro, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (RBINS)
References