Criteria

Natura2000
Natura2000 areas are European protected areas with a high biodiversity. These areas are
created to protected species and their habitats. In the north sea there are multiple natura2000
areas like the Dogger bank, and the Cleaver Bank. These areas are sensitive and are
vulnerable for changes. Wind farms could disturb these environments. Thereby could the
construction of these wind turbines create disturbance and noise pollution. This is why most
of the nature organizations advocate to place the wind farms outside natura2000 areas.
(Deltares, 2012)
Territorial waters
Territorial waters are the first 12 miles from the coast. These coastal regions have a high
ecological value because there are more shallow waters where organisms are more suitable to
live than in deeper waters of the North Sea. So that is why wind turbines should not be placed
in territorial waters.
Herring spawning areas
Herring is important as a predator in the pelagic and coastal ecosystem. But also a key prey
specie for a lot of other organisms. Herring is not only an important specie for its ecosystem
but also as a commercial fish is herring important due to the fact that herring could not be
cultivated through agriculture. Besides herring is one of the fish larvae species what is the
most venerable for pile driving sounds. However more research on the long term should have
to be done to prove the long term effects of noise pollution. (Bolle, et al., 2014)
Grey seal
The grey seal (Halichurus grypus) could be disturbed for tree main causes, the placing of the
wind turbines could create underwater noise, due to the physical presence of the wind mills
grey seals could move away from the wind farms and placing wind turbines could
permanently change the environment where in the worst case the food source decreases and
the ecosystem gets out of balance. Research shows that grey seal do not shift due to the fact
of the physical presence of the wind turbines and they do not move because of a lack of food
supply (Danish Energy Authority, 2006). However the grey seal is a mammal with a low
frequency hearing range and are aware of the underwater noise (Brasseur, et al., 2010). Grey
seals seem to be affected by the noise pollution up to 10 km distance (Danish Energy
Authority, 2006).
Shipping routes
The recommended distance between windfarms and shipping routes is 5 miles. This due to
meeting traffic, when ships are coming to close to each other, dangerous situations arise. Like
spills of cargo or they could sink. For this reason the MCA has set a distance of 5 miles.
(Verkiel, 2008)
Oil platforms
A collision between ships or ships with wind turbines is harmful for the environment, but a
collision between ships and oil platforms is even more harmful. The placing of wind turbines
near oil platform creates a higher risk for ships to collide with surrounding oil platforms. This
is why wind turbines should be placed 5 miles from oil platforms. If such a casualty would
take place a lot of oil will spill into the sea and will harm the surrounding environment.
(NWEA, 2008)