Symposium: Towards Environmentally Sound Offshore Wind Energy Development

To set the agenda towards an environmentally sound offshore wind energy deployment, the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation held a symposium on the subject in Stralsund, Germany, on January 23rd – 26th 2012. The symposium awakened great interest from the invited parties: originally planned to number 30 to 35 participants, the symposium was actually attended by 48 participants from six countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom. Twenty presentations were given by national and international experts on up-to-date research results, regulations and requirements with regards to nature conservation and offshore wind farms, with particular focus on marine mammals, sea birds, migratory birds, and fish. The aim was to identify and describe research priorities and needs of action for the further expansion of offshore wind energy.