LevelPressureImpulsive

LevelPressureContinuous

ImpactPressureFunctionalGroups

NoiseImpulsive11_1

NoiseContinuous11_2

NoiseFunctionalGroupD11

NotRelevant

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

Insufficient monitoring data and lack of established assessment methods

Insufficient monitoring data and lack of established assessment methods

Insufficient monitoring data and lack of established assessment methods

It is not clear to what extent impulsive noise from construction activities, seismic surveys, clearing of ammunitions already presents a problem and what the (cumulative) effect is of the increased construction activities. No complete information is available on impulsive noise sources in the North Sea, as this is not being registered yet.

It is not clear to what extent current background noise from, for example, shipping, already presents a problem and what the (cumulative) effect is of the increased use of the sea. No information is available on background noise levels in the North Sea, as this is not being measured yet.

Knowledge on the effects of noise on organisms is still limited. Monitoring should not only focus on the quantity of current noise, but also on developing knowledge on the effects of various sources of noise and on the cumulation of effects. There are no concrete indications that the (probably) increased level of noise in the Dutch part of the North Sea has harmful effects. A conclusion on harmful effects on the marine mammals living in the North Sea cannot be drawn either. Although a monitoring program will be set up, it will take some years before a clear picture emerges

According to the OSPAR Quality Status Report from 2010 and noise reports from 2009, the North Sea as a whole, and the southern half of the Dutch part in particular, is one of the most intensively used seas in the world. Human activities sometimes result in high noise levels, but it is not yet known whether anthropogenic noise has (harmful) effects on the ecosystem and/or specific animal species. The main unknowns are: the actual noise levels under water, the trends in these levels, and the relationship between the doses of noise received and their ecological effects on species and, especially, at ecosystem level. It is also not yet clear how the impact of noise relates to other factors that impact the marine environment. A study conducted for the Dutch part of the North Sea did not reveal any specific sub-areas where a major risk can be expected for the marine environment due to anthropogenic underwater noise. There are loud impulse noises from construction activities (for oil and gas platforms and wind farms), from seismic surveys (for oil and gas exploration) and from clearing of old ammunition.

According to the OSPAR Quality Status Report from 2010 and noise reports from 2009, the North Sea as a whole, and the southern half of the Dutch part in particular, is one of the most intensively used seas in the world. Human activities sometimes result in high noise levels, but it is not yet known whether anthropogenic noise has (harmful) effects on the ecosystem and/or specific animal species. The main unknowns are: the actual noise levels under water, the trends in these levels, and the relationship between the doses of noise received and their ecological effects on species and, especially, at ecosystem level. It is also not yet clear how the impact of noise relates to other factors that impact the marine environment. A study conducted for the Dutch part of the North Sea did not reveal any specific sub-areas where a major risk can be expected for the marine environment due to anthropogenic underwater noise. The most frequent noise in this part of the North Sea comes from shipping and this has resulted in a heightened background noise level.

The lack of knowledge on the effects of underwater noise poses a risk for the marine environment of our heavily used part of the North Sea. The noises from current human activities could already be leading to environmental damage. The Conservation Plan for Harbour Porpoises, for example, has already identified concrete indications for evasive behaviour by harbour porpoises in the face of impulse noises from pile-driving, seismic surveys, underwater explosions and sonar operations. It is not known over what distance and what period harmful effects may occur, nor is it clear whether increased use (shipping, seismology, wind farms) until 2020 will also result in increased problems. However, there is no documented proof of mortality due to underwater noise.

Non related GES component

Non related GES component

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

The most frequent noise in this part of the North Sea comes from shipping and this has resulted in an elevated background noise level. Further, there are loud impulse noises from construction activities (for oil and gas platforms and wind farms), from seismic surveys (for oil and gas exploration) and from clearing of old ammunition.

The most frequent noise in this part of the North Sea comes from shipping and this has resulted in an elevated background noise level. Further, there are loud impulse noises from construction activities (for oil and gas platforms and wind farms), from seismic surveys (for oil and gas exploration) and from clearing of old ammunition.

The most frequent noise in this part of the North Sea comes from shipping and this has resulted in an elevated background noise level. Further, there are loud impulse noises from construction activities (for oil and gas platforms and wind farms), from seismic surveys (for oil and gas exploration) and from clearing of old ammunition.

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• OilGas
• RenewableEnergy

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• OilGas
• RenewableEnergy

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• OilGas
• RenewableEnergy

There are difficulties in quantifying the extent and scale of the impacts as there is great variability in the characteristics of the sounds, the sensitivities of different species and the scale of noise-generating activities. Data on all these aspects is generally scarce. But with the relatively intense concentrations of human activities in the North Sea, and the probability that these will increase, it is important that the effects of increased levels of underwater sound are fully considered. Studies show that noise does affect marine organisms but so far, although there is now some knowledge on direct effects, relevance of these direct effects on the ecosystem and possible cumulative effects is still largely unknown. Research is needed on the propagation and effects of underwater sound on marine life, as well as behavioural and auditory studies, programs to monitor the distribution of sound sources and the relevant marine species, and anthropogenic sound budgets. There is an urgent need to standardize methods for assessing the impacts of sound on marine species and to address the cumulative effects of different sources. Clear generic guidelines / procedures should be established for the measurement, processing and quantification of underwater sound, such that future studies and measurement campaigns lead to comparable results. There is a large demand for proper measuring protocols and measurements of natural and anthropogenic underwater sound in the North Sea (i.e. measurements that comply with the guidelines) for further development of the propagation modeling and validation of the resulting sound maps. When developing knowledge and drafting the monitoring program, the Netherlands will work with other Member States in the European TSG Noise.

There are difficulties in quantifying the extent and scale of the impacts as there is great variability in the characteristics of the sounds, the sensitivities of different species and the scale of noise-generating activities. Data on all these aspects is generally scarce. But with the relatively intense concentrations of human activities in the North Sea, and the probability that these will increase, it is important that the effects of increased levels of underwater sound are fully considered. Studies show that noise does affect marine organisms but so far, although there is now some knowledge on direct effects, relevance of these direct effects on the ecosystem and possible cumulative effects is still largely unknown. Research is needed on the propagation and effects of underwater sound on marine life, as well as behavioural and auditory studies, programs to monitor the distribution of sound sources and the relevant marine species, and anthropogenic sound budgets. There is an urgent need to standardize methods for assessing the impacts of sound on marine species and to address the cumulative effects of different sources. Clear generic guidelines / procedures should be established for the measurement, processing and quantification of underwater sound, such that future studies and measurement campaigns lead to comparable results. There is a large demand for proper measuring protocols and measurements of natural and anthropogenic underwater sound in the North Sea (i.e. measurements that comply with the guidelines) for further development of the propagation modeling and validation of the resulting sound maps. When developing knowledge and drafting the monitoring program, the Netherlands will work with other Member States in the European TSG Noise.

There are difficulties in quantifying the extent and scale of the impacts as there is great variability in the characteristics of the sounds, the sensitivities of different species and the scale of noise-generating activities. Data on all these aspects is generally scarce. But with the relatively intense concentrations of human activities in the North Sea, and the probability that these will increase, it is important that the effects of increased levels of underwater sound are fully considered. Studies show that noise does affect marine organisms but so far, although there is now some knowledge on direct effects, relevance of these direct effects on the ecosystem and possible cumulative effects is still largely unknown. Research is needed on the propagation and effects of underwater sound on marine life, as well as behavioural and auditory studies, programs to monitor the distribution of sound sources and the relevant marine species, and anthropogenic sound budgets. There is an urgent need to standardize methods for assessing the impacts of sound on marine species and to address the cumulative effects of different sources. Clear generic guidelines / procedures should be established for the measurement, processing and quantification of underwater sound, such that future studies and measurement campaigns lead to comparable results. There is a large demand for proper measuring protocols and measurements of natural and anthropogenic underwater sound in the North Sea (i.e. measurements that comply with the guidelines) for further development of the propagation modeling and validation of the resulting sound maps. When developing knowledge and drafting the monitoring program, the Netherlands will work with other Member States in the European TSG Noise.