Offshore wind farms and seabirds in the Dutch Sector of the North Sea

A surge in offshore wind farm development is expected across the North Sea in the near future. Site selection for future parks in Dutch waters is in full progress. Navigational safety is of prime importance: wind farms need to be outside major and minor shipping lanes, clearways, harbour approaches and military exercise areas. Apart from technical and economical considerations, nature conservation needs to be taken into account. Several Nature 2000 areas have been assigned in Dutch offshore waters and these are to be kept free from offshore wind farm development.