Abstract
OCEaN – North & Baltic Seas has launched three factsheets as part of our new Stronger Data, Smarter Seas series. In cooperation with our Members, these factsheets aim to outline the importance of data monitoring, collection, and sharing throughout all stages of offshore wind and grid development to protect the health and resilience of our seas. Considering nature from planning through to decommissioning supports conservation, helps reduce costs, and ensures infrastructure development is aligned with both biodiversity and energy goals.
The first factsheet presents ‘a four-step path to nature-inclusive offshore wind and grids’ – clearly outlining how developers work closely with ecological experts on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), mitigation objectives, environmental monitoring, and adaptive management. These four steps are closely connected and most effective when applied as a coherent process. The factsheet aims to make these steps tangible with a clear example of these processes using the harbour porpoise.