What could a healthy North Sea with sustainable use look like in the future and how do we get there? These questions are addressed in the recently published report 'North Sea Vision 2040'. The vision was created through cooperation between the various parties active in the North Sea and aims to create an international master plan for nature conservation and ecology in which all users are integrated. Sector specialist Spatial Planning and Ecology, Kees Stiggelbout, contributed to the report on behalf of NedZero, and argues for a constructive contribution from all sectors.
“It is very important that everyone who makes intensive use of the North Sea contributes to the North Sea ecology, realizing that the sustainability transition (and therefore also the nature transition) should not only apply to the energy sector, but to all sectors that are active in the North Sea.
International cooperation is crucial. Nature never stops at the border.”
Financially responsible together
NedZero contributed to the North Sea 2040 report, because the wind industry attaches great importance to North Sea nature and acts accordingly. Partly based on the objective of making a net positive contribution to the North Sea ecology. The condition for this, Stiggelbout explains, is that North Sea ecology is approached holistically and internationally, as is also advocated in the report.
"This means that in addition to nature reinforcement and mitigation measures by the industries, sufficient nature reserves are also designated. For optimal results, however, not only the wind industry, as the new kid on the block , should contribute financially to the ambitions, but also the other economic users of the North Sea. Naturally within the available space of the business case.”
Sustainability transition: also for sand extraction and shipping
Until now, the sustainability transition in the North Sea has been almost exclusively limited to energy, most recently through the gradual transition from fossil energy to wind energy. Offshore wind is subject to a nature-inclusive roll-out with ecological measures in the tender and the wind farm site decision.
For new oil and gas extraction, this is only possible within the Paris CO2 targets and that nature-enhancing measures must be taken for each new platform. In addition, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), or CO2 storage, is becoming an increasingly important part of the energy transition and climate policy for the oil and gas industry. Nature reinforcement must also be done for new CCS activities.
There is not yet a concrete sustainability transition path for current food extraction, but Stiggelbout indicates that this is currently being worked on. "The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Fisheries (LNV), the North Sea Consultation (NZO) and the Fisheries Innovation Network (VIN) in particular are working on this, with the aim, among other things, of a transition from active fishing (trawl fishing) to passive fishing (lines). , baskets, jigging) and aquaculture (mussel, oyster and seaweed farming)."
He states that the sustainability transition (and therefore also the nature transition) should not only apply to energy and food extraction, as included in the North Sea Agreement. "This should also apply to other economic users such as sand mining and shipping."
Challenges
The biggest challenge is that there is not yet a business case for passive fishing. The industry specialist has therefore suggested looking at a combined business case with data fishing as a solution.
No objectives for a sustainability transition are yet known for sand extraction and shipping. For a healthier ecosystem, it would be desirable that these industries not only contribute financially to ecology, but also apply nature enhancement measures (compensation) and mitigation measures.
Stiggelbout gives suggestions for mitigation measures for shipping, for example: bio-antifouling, a quieter propeller, cleaner fuel and more economical ships.
International cooperation
In addition, the industry specialist points out the great importance of international cooperation because fish, marine mammals and birds do not stop at borders. "It is permanently important that the North Sea countries make good agreements about North Sea ecology and the designation of nature reserves and wind farms. Only then can efficient and effective work be done on restoring and strengthening the ecosystem and Dutch efforts can be strengthened across the border. become."
Opportunities for all sectors
In addition, Stiggelbout points out the importance of broad monitoring and research. “Not only to gain a better understanding of the ecological consequences of offshore wind farms at sea, but also of the influence of other sectors and other factors such as climate change and bird flu. It is also important to know the effectiveness of existing ecology measures.
The wind sector is currently very active in the field of ecological monitoring and research, because wind farm operators are obliged to carry out monitoring. The demand for knowledge and data is not only desirable from an ecological point of view, but also from a security point of view. This offers important additional opportunities for the fishery.
Consider, for example, the relatively new phenomenon of data fishing, the collection of security and ecological data under and above water using cameras, radars and sensors on board. This is information that is useful to wind operators, scientists and the Coast Guard and could therefore form an interesting part of the business case for this sector. In parallel, data fishing can also contribute to the sustainability transition of food from sea.”
Stiggelbout sees nature restoration and enhancement above all as a major economic opportunity for the Netherlands: “By joining forces with the strong Dutch shipping industry, the offshore wind industry, food industry and knowledge institutions, many new innovations can be developed that contribute to a more sustainable use of the North Sea and seas elsewhere in the world. With opportunities for wind energy, fishing, aquaculture and shipping, which can also be used as a Dutch export product.”
Source images: all photos come from the report 'The North Sea 2040', by Natuur & Milieu, Stichting de Noordzee, Vogelbescherming Nederland and WWF.
