On artificial hard substrates approximately 50 samples are taken in selected habitats such as groynes, buoys, wind turbines, measuring piles and other offshore artificial structure such as artificial islands, artificial reefs (reef balls) as they are becoming available. Windmill data: species lists occurrence, density, extensive list. Buoy data, groynes and other artificial hard substrates: species lists with occurrence, ad hoc, info on substrates.

Benthos (animals retrieved on a 1mm sieve) is collected by a Van Veen grab at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system (3-yearly) + depending on where the activity is going on). Samples are also taken at control stations, locations outside the direct impact sphere of the activity. Besides, a few long-term monitoring locations are regularly sampled. Details of sampling records in the past and what is expected the coming years is given in annex. Monitoring is ongoing since 1979, but with a more standardized, comparable design from 2006 onwards. International cooperation is currently limited to knowledge exchange within OSPAR COBAM, benthic expert group.

Benthos (animals retrieved on a 1mm sieve) is collected by a Van Veen grab at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system (3-yearly) + depending on where the activity is going on). Samples are also taken at control stations, locations outside the direct impact sphere of the activity. Besides, a few long-term monitoring locations are regularly sampled. Details of sampling records in the past and what is expected the coming years is given in annex. Monitoring is ongoing since 1979, but with a more standardized, comparable design from 2006 onwards. International cooperation is currently limited to knowledge exchange within OSPAR COBAM, benthic expert group.

Benthos (animals retrieved on a 1mm sieve) is collected by a Van Veen grab at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system (3-yearly) + depending on where the activity is going on). Samples are also taken at control stations, locations outside the direct impact sphere of the activity. Besides, a few long-term monitoring locations are regularly sampled. Details of sampling records in the past and what is expected the coming years is given in annex. Monitoring is ongoing since 1979, but with a more standardized, comparable design from 2006 onwards. International cooperation is currently limited to knowledge exchange within OSPAR COBAM, benthic expert group.

The epibenthos and demersal fish are collected by 8m beam trawl with 22mm mesh at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system + depending on where the activity is going on). The windfarm area is sampled every year, but with variation in the specific concession areas sampled. In addition, a number of long-term monitoring stations are sampled on a regular basis. The epibenthos and demersal fish are determined to species level, counted and weighted (not fish) or length measured (fish). The dab (Limanda limanda) in the tracks (up to a maximum of 500 individuals for respectively the coastal and offshore assessment area) are investigated for external fish diseases, following the ICES TIMES guidelines. This programme is covering the environmental targets long-living species (D6.6), alien species (D2.1) and fish diseases (D8.5). From 2006 onwards, monitoring is executed following a more standardized, comparable design.

The epibenthos and demersal fish are collected by 8m beam trawl with 22mm mesh at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system + depending on where the activity is going on). The windfarm area is sampled every year, but with variation in the specific concession areas sampled. In addition, a number of long-term monitoring stations are sampled on a regular basis. The epibenthos and demersal fish are determined to species level, counted and weighted (not fish) or length measured (fish). The dab (Limanda limanda) in the tracks (up to a maximum of 500 individuals for respectively the coastal and offshore assessment area) are investigated for external fish diseases, following the ICES TIMES guidelines. This programme is covering the environmental targets long-living species (D6.6), alien species (D2.1) and fish diseases (D8.5). From 2006 onwards, monitoring is executed following a more standardized, comparable design.

The epibenthos and demersal fish are collected by 8m beam trawl with 22mm mesh at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system + depending on where the activity is going on). The windfarm area is sampled every year, but with variation in the specific concession areas sampled. In addition, a number of long-term monitoring stations are sampled on a regular basis. The epibenthos and demersal fish are determined to species level, counted and weighted (not fish) or length measured (fish). The dab (Limanda limanda) in the tracks (up to a maximum of 500 individuals for respectively the coastal and offshore assessment area) are investigated for external fish diseases, following the ICES TIMES guidelines. This programme is covering the environmental targets long-living species (D6.6), alien species (D2.1) and fish diseases (D8.5). From 2006 onwards, monitoring is executed following a more standardized, comparable design.

The epibenthos and demersal fish are collected by 8m beam trawl with 22mm mesh at different locations and habitats within the Belgian part of the North Sea. The spatial and temporal distribution of those samples depends on the occurrence and intensity of human activities in different areas. The exact number of samples per year and area depends on which sand extraction and disposal area is visited (certain rotation system + depending on where the activity is going on). The windfarm area is sampled every year, but with variation in the specific concession areas sampled. In addition, a number of long-term monitoring stations are sampled on a regular basis. The epibenthos and demersal fish are determined to species level, counted and weighted (not fish) or length measured (fish). The dab (Limanda limanda) in the tracks (up to a maximum of 500 individuals for respectively the coastal and offshore assessment area) are investigated for external fish diseases, following the ICES TIMES guidelines. This programme is covering the environmental targets long-living species (D6.6), alien species (D2.1) and fish diseases (D8.5). From 2006 onwards, monitoring is executed following a more standardized, comparable design.

The macrobenthos (animals retrieved on a 1mm sieve) are collected by a Van Veen grab at different locations and habitats within the OWFs C-Power and Belwind at the Belgian Part of the North Sea. These samples are compared to reference areas close to the studied OWFs. From each Van Veen grab, a sediment sample is retrieved for benthic habitat characterization (granulometric measurements: median grain size (µm) and fine sediment fraction (% within 125-250 µm); total organic matter content (%)). Frequency: from T0 (before construction) onwards, yearly except when windfarm in construction phase. Since 2005 onwards in C-Power (Thornton bank and Goote Bank); since 2008 onwards in Belwind (Bligh Bank), mainly in autumn, with different sampling schemes.

The macrobenthos (animals retrieved on a 1mm sieve) are collected by a Van Veen grab at different locations and habitats within the OWFs C-Power and Belwind at the Belgian Part of the North Sea. These samples are compared to reference areas close to the studied OWFs. From each Van Veen grab, a sediment sample is retrieved for benthic habitat characterization (granulometric measurements: median grain size (µm) and fine sediment fraction (% within 125-250 µm); total organic matter content (%)). Frequency: from T0 (before construction) onwards, yearly except when windfarm in construction phase. Since 2005 onwards in C-Power (Thornton bank and Goote Bank); since 2008 onwards in Belwind (Bligh Bank), mainly in autumn, with different sampling schemes.

The macrobenthos (animals retrieved on a 1mm sieve) are collected by a Van Veen grab at different locations and habitats within the OWFs C-Power and Belwind at the Belgian Part of the North Sea. These samples are compared to reference areas close to the studied OWFs. From each Van Veen grab, a sediment sample is retrieved for benthic habitat characterization (granulometric measurements: median grain size (µm) and fine sediment fraction (% within 125-250 µm); total organic matter content (%)). Frequency: from T0 (before construction) onwards, yearly except when windfarm in construction phase. Since 2005 onwards in C-Power (Thornton bank and Goote Bank); since 2008 onwards in Belwind (Bligh Bank), mainly in autumn, with different sampling schemes.

The monitoring consists of a periodic assessment of benthic communities at fixed locations. Four stations have been designated in the Northern Exploration Area (area overlapping with area designated for the exploration of the potential of marine aggregate extraction and for the protection of the seabed in Marine Spatial Plan 2020-2026). A transect station will be established in the Hinderbanken. Sampling is implemented by Hammon grab and underwater videography. In-situ samples are stored and processed at RBINS facilities (Oostende) according to in-house protocols of faunal analysis. Tabulation of species data (count, abundance and richness). Underwater videography: stored and processed at RBINS (Brussels) according to currently developing methodologies w.r.t. semi-automated image classification and feature extraction.

The monitoring consists of a periodic assessment of benthic communities at fixed locations. Four stations have been designated in the Northern Exploration Area (area overlapping with area designated for the exploration of the potential of marine aggregate extraction and for the protection of the seabed in Marine Spatial Plan 2020-2026). A transect station will be established in the Hinderbanken. Sampling is implemented by Hammon grab and underwater videography. In-situ samples are stored and processed at RBINS facilities (Oostende) according to in-house protocols of faunal analysis. Tabulation of species data (count, abundance and richness). Underwater videography: stored and processed at RBINS (Brussels) according to currently developing methodologies w.r.t. semi-automated image classification and feature extraction.