draft policy document on the north sea 2016-2021 · north sea’s entirety. the average depth of...

Draft

Policy Document on the North Sea 2016-2021

designated Natura 2000 area

potentially ecologically valuable area

shipping infrastructure

wind farm in operation / under construction

designated wind energy area

policy intention for wind energy within the 12-mile zone

freshwater

sand extraction reserve area

search area for measures to protect the seabed

military exercise area

EEZ boundaryterritorial sea boundary (= 12-mile zone)transitional / coastal waters (WFD 2000/60/EG de�nitions apply)

Eems-Dollard Treaty area

applicable to the Dutch part of the North Sea:- multiple use of space is desirable- potential for oil and gas extraction- potential for CO2 storage- �shing and aquaculture possible, exept in areas with restricted access (see Marine Ecosystem map)- striving for conservation of underwater cultural heritage- recreation possible- interaction between land and sea

surface:

preferred routes for cables and pipelines

dunes0 100 km

0 50 NMN

Integrated maritime spatial policy map

Draft

Policy Document on the North Sea 2016-2021

Appendix 2 to the National Water Plan 2016-2021

Draft Maritime Spatial policy Plan Netherlands, for consultation

| Draft Maritime Spatial Policy Plan Netherlands for consultation2

1 PolicyfortheNorthSea 5

1.1 Introduction 5 1.2 Procedure 7 1.3 Relationshipwithotherpolicydocuments 8 1.4 CreationofanadministrativeandlegalframeworkfortheNorthSea 10 1.5 Readingguide 13

2 Long-termvision 15

2.1 NorthSea2050SpatialAgenda 15 2.2 Overarchingvision 17 2.3 Fivetopics 18

3 Themarineecosystemanddesignateduses 21

3.1 Introduction 21 3.2 Marineecosystem 24 3.3 Renewableenergy 30 3.4 Extractionofsurfaceminerals 32 3.5 Oilandgasextraction 34 3.6 CO2storage 35 3.7 Cablesandpipelines 36 3.8 Shipping 38 3.9 Defence 40 3.10 Fishing,aquacultureandmariculture 41 3.11 UnderwaterCulturalHeritage 43 3.12 Tourismandrecreation 45 3.13 Interactionbetweenlandandsea 47

Draft Maritime Spatial Policy Plan Netherlands for consultation | 3

4 Policyforsocialtasks 51

4.1 Introduction 51 4.2 ProgrammeofmeasuresforMarineStrategy 52 4.3 Windenergy 67 4.4 Sandextractionstrategy 73

5 Assessmentframework 77

5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 Scopeandfundamentalprinciplesoftheassessmentframework 78 5.3 Thefivestepscomprisingtheassessmentframework 81

6 Internationalcollaboration 87

6.1 Developments 87 6.2 Visionandtasking 89 6.3 Policy 90

7 Outlineofthepolicy,actionsandfinancing 93

7.1 Outlineofthepolicy 94 7.2 Overviewofactions 96 7.3 Financing 98

| Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu4

1


Policy for the North Sea1.1 Introduction

Socialaspect

TheNorthSea(approx.575,000km2)isarelativelyshallowmarginalseaoftheAtlanticOceaninnorth-westEurope.Theseaisboundedbylandonthreesidesandopensoutintothenorth-easternAtlanticOceanintheshapeofafunnel.TheDutchpartoftheNorthSearunsfromthecoasttotheouterlimitoftheDutchcontinentalshelfandencompassesapprox.58,000km2,roughlyatenthoftheNorthSea’sentirety.TheaveragedepthoftheDutchExclusiveEconomicZoneis35metres,runningtoinexcessof60metresinanortherlydirection.TheNorthSeaisahighlycomplexandopenmarineecosystemwithoutboundarieswithspecifichabitats.Theshallow,nutrient-richareaconstitutesahabitatformarinemammals,abreedinggroundforfishandanimportantmigratorypathandwinteringhabitatforagreatmanyspeciesofbirds.Themarineecosystemcanbeusedasasourceofgoods(suchasfish,sand,shells,oil,gas,windenergy,tidalenergyandwaveenergy)andtofacilitateservices(shipping,recreation,CO2storage,perception)for(Dutch)society.

TheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaisoneofthemostintensivelyusedseasintheworld.TherearebothshippingroutestoandfromRotterdam,Antwerp,Zeebrugge,Amsterdam,Eemshaven/Delfzijlandinternationalroutespassingalongourcoast.PetroleumandgasareextractedintheNorthSea,andwindenergygeneratedbyoffshorewindfarmscontributestorenewableenergysupply.Cablesandpipelinesconnectminingplatformsandwindfarmswiththeland,andtelecommunicationscables

facilitateworldwidecommunication.TheNorthSeaisalsoanimportantsourceforsandextractionforcoastalprotectionandfillsandforinfrastructureandnew-buildprojects.LargesectionsoftheNorthSeaarefished,makingitonesourceofourfoodsupply.Defenseengageinseaborneexercisesusingshipsandotherequipment.Historicshipwrecks,thevestigesofprehistoricsettle-mentsandtheremainsofearlyhominidsaretobefoundinandontheNorthSeabed.Landandseaareintercon-nectedinavarietyofways,withportsformingalinkbetweenseaandhinterland,andcoastaltourismandvariousformsofrecreationmakingasignificantcontribu-tiontooureconomy.

TheexpectedintensificationoftheuseoftheNorthSea,inpartduetoanincreasingnumberofdesignateduses,willcompelustomanagethe(limited)availablespacesensibly.Increasingusageisputtingthemarineecosystemunderstrain.Adynamicsystemliketheseacallsforadynamicmethodofmanagement.Theecosystemapproach,enshrinedinvarioustreatiesandregulations(ConventiononBiologicalDiversity1,OSPAR2,MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective3),entailsintegratedmanagementofhumanactivities,basedonknowledgeoftheecosystem’sdynamics.Theaimofthisapproachistoidentifythoseinfluencingfactorscriticaltothehealthoftheecosystemandtotaketherelevantaction,therebyensuringsustainableuseofecosystemgoodsandservicesandpreservingtheintegrityoftheecosystem.

PolicyisaprerequisiteforharmonisingthevariousdesignatedusesoftheNorthSeaandensuringahealthy

1 Convention on Biological Diversity, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1993, no. 54.

2 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention), Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1993, no. 141.

3 Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy.


ecosystem.AdecisionhasbeenmadetoabstainfromplanningonthebasisofaCentralGovernmentspatialzoningplan4,butrathertomanagethingsbymeansofcomprehensiveareadevelopmentthroughdevelopmentplanning,withspacebeingcreatedforthepurposesofdevelopingfunctions.5ThepresentPolicyDocumentontheNorthSea2016-2021setsoutthepolicyforuseofspacewithinthecompassofahealthyecosystem.

ThePolicyDocumentNorthSea2009-2015wasevaluatedwhilstdrawingupthisdocument.Theindividualsectionswilldescribehowdevelopmentsintermsofenvironmentorpolicyhavegivenrisetothelong-termambitionsandmarineandmaritimepolicydecisionsforthe2016-2021periodincludingthespatialcomponent.

Legalaspect

TheWaterAct(Waterwet)stipulatesanobligationtodrawupanationalwaterplan(Section4.1(1)oftheWaterAct).Intermsoftheplanningaspects,thisplanalsoconstitutesaframeworkvisionasdefinedbySection2.3(2)oftheSpatialPlanningAct(Wetruimtelijkeordening).Section4.1(3)boftheWaterActstipulatesthatministersmustalsoincludetheNorthSeapolicyintheNationalWaterPlan.TheMinistersresponsibleinthisregardarethoseforInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentandEconomicAffairs(Section1.1(1)oftheWaterAct).

TheobligationunderSection4.1(1)oftheWaterActhasbeenfulfilledforthe2016-2021periodbymeansofdrawinguptheNationalWaterPlan(NWP)2016-2021.ThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeafleshesoutandsubstantiatesthepolicydescribedinthemaintextoftheNWPandhasbeenincludedasaseparateappendixtothe

4 Dutch House of Representatives, 2010-2011 session, 29 675, no. 118.

5 Council for the Living Environment and Infrastructure, ‘A Sea of Opportunity, September 2011’ and the Cabinet’s response: Dutch House of Representatives, 2011-2012 session, 30 195, no. 31.

NWP.Withregardtothespatialplanningaspects6,theNorthSeaPolicyDocumentconstitutesaframeworkvisionasdefinedbySection2.3(2)oftheSpatialPlanningAct.

FromtheEuropeanperspective,theDirectiveestablishingaframeworkformaritimespatialplanning7requiresuseofspaceatseatobeplanned.Internationalcooperationiskeyinthisregard,andspecialattentionispaidtotheconnectionbetweenlandandsea.AlthoughtheEUMSPDirectivedoesnotneedtobeimplementeduntil2016,andtheinitialmaritimespatialplanisnotrequireduntil2021,theNorthSeaPolicyDocumentwillneverthelessendeavouratthepresentjuncturetoelaborateontheprinciplesformulated.

TheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(MSFD)callsforaprogrammeofmeasurestoensurethatagoodenvironmentalstatusofthewatersystemisachievedby2020withsustainableequilibriumbetweeneconomyandecology.TheDutchprogrammeofmeasureshasbeenappendedtothePolicyDocument.Asummaryhasbeenincludedinsection4.2.

ThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeadescribesfromtheperspectiveoftheaforementionedstatutoryobligationsthespatialplanningintheNorthSeawithintheframe-workofthemarineecosystem.

6 The planning aspects contained in this Policy Document can be found in the description of the policy (or parts thereof) in sections 3 and 4 and in the details of the assessment framework contained in section 5. The translation of these things into spatial planning terms is depicted on the framework vision map.

7 Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning.


topics(nature,water,soil,landscape,culturalhistory,archaeology,designatedusesandsustainability).

On25September2014theCounselforInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentwasconsultedontheNWPandspecificattentionwasdevotedtothePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea.Stakeholderssubmittedresponsesverballyandinwriting.

Fromthetimeofpublication,theDraftPolicyDocumentontheNorthSeawillbeavailableforconsultationforaperiodofsixmonths.ItisanticipatedthatthedefinitivePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeawillbeestablishedinDecember2015.Itwillcomeintoeffectafterparliamentaryconsent.

1.2 Procedure

ThisPolicyDocumentontheNorthSeaisbeingpreparedonthebasisofpart3.4oftheGeneralAdministrativeLawAct(Algemenewetbestuursrecht),underArticle4.1oftheWaterDecree(Waterbesluit).Furthermore,additionalproceduralregulationsapplyundertheWaterAct(Waterwet),theSpatialPlanningAct(Wetruimtelijkeordening)andtheEnvironmentalManagementAct(Wetmilieubeheer).

ThesubsequentNationalWaterPlanandthuswithanewPolicyDocumentontheNorthSeawasannouncedinthelettertotheDutchHouseofRepresentativesdated16January20148.On2June2014anannouncementwasissueddetailingtheproposaltopreparearevisedversionoftheNationalWaterPlan,includingthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea,thisannouncementwaspublishedintheStaatscourant9(Dutchgovernmentgazette)andtheVolkskrantnewspaper.InlinewithSection7.9oftheEnvironmentalManagementAct,allpartiesweregiventheopportunitytosubmittheirviewsontheproposal.On8July2014aletterwassenttothegovernmentsofneighbouringcountriesinformingthemoftheproposaltodrawupthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea(Section7.9oftheEnvironmentalManagementActandArticle4.4oftheWaterDecree)(refIENM/BSK-2014/144703).

On2June2014aMemorandumonScopeandDetailing(NRD)forthestrategicenvironmentalassessment(PlanMERplanenvironmentalimpactstatement)wasmadeavailableforpublicconsultationforthepurposesofrevisingtheNationalWaterPlan.AStrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentandappropriateevaluation10oftheNationalWaterPlanassessedthepolicydecisionspertainingtotheNorthSeaonthebasisofanumberof


9 Proposal to draw up a subsequent National Water Plan (NWP) and the Management and Development Plan for National Waters, including Environmental Impact statements, Staatscourant, Year 2014, no. 14691.

10 Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and Ministry of Economic Affairs, PlanMER National Water Plan 2, Arcadis, 21 November 2014. Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and Ministry of Economic Affairs, Appropriate assessment Nature Conservancy Act (Natuurbeschermingswet) 1998 accompanying the National Water Plan 2016-2021 (NWP2), Arcadis, 21 November 2014.


IntegratedManagementPlanfortheNorthSeaTheIntegratedManagementPlanfortheNorthSea(IBN)describesmanagementoftheNorthSea.Forexample,anassessmentframeworkissetoutwithrespecttopermitissuanceforactivitiesintheNorthSea.ThisassessmentframeworkhasbeenintegratedandexpandeduponwithinthisPolicyDocumentontheNorthSea.TheotherbackgroundandmanagementinformationfromtheIBNcanbefoundatwww.noordzeeloket.nl.Consequently,theIBNasseparatedocumentwillceasetoexist.

FrameworkVisiononInfrastructureandSpaceTheFrameworkVisiononInfrastructureandSpace(SVIR)15providesanoverallpictureofthespatialplanningandmobilitypolicyatcentralgovernmentlevel,therebyconstitutingtheoverarchingframeworkfortheNWPandthusalsoforthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea.WithintheSVIRanumberofdesignatedusesontheNorthSeahavebeendeemedtobeactivitiesinthenationalinterestandthesewillbeexpandeduponinthepresentPolicyDocument.

FrameworkVisiononSubsoilTheFrameworkVisiononSubsoilisaframeworkfortheregulationofsubterraneanactivitiesbothonlandandatsea.TheframeworkvisionisbeingformulatedintheSTRONGprogrammeinconsultationwithlocalandregionalauthorities.Theframeworkvisionaimstodevelopsustainableandefficientpolicyforthesubsoil,withabalancebeingstruckbetweenutilisationandprotection.Theframeworkvisionisexpectedtobecompletedby2015.

15 Dutch House of Representatives, 2011–2012 session, 32 660, no. 50.

1.3 Relationship with other policy documents

ThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeaaffectsseveralotherpolicydocumentsorstrategiesatbothnationalandEuropeanlevel.11

BlueGrowthThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeatiesinwiththe‘BlueGrowth’strategy,focusedonsustainablegrowthinthemarine,maritimeandcoastaleconomies,asformulatedbytheEuropeanCommission12andrecordedintheLimassolDeclarationafterconsultationwiththeMemberStatesandrepresentativesoftheEuropeanParliament.13ThestrategybolstersefficientandsustainableuseofspaceontheNorthSeaandencouragespartiestocapitaliseonnewopportunitiespresentedbytheseaintermsofenergyfromwater,aquacultureandmariculture,tourism,bluebiotechnologyandsustainableextractionofresourcesindeepwaters.

NorthSea2050SpatialAgendaTheNorthSea2050SpatialAgenda14developedin2013-2014constitutesalong-termvisionfortheNorthSeawhichhasbeenintegratedintothisdocument.TheSpatialAgendaspecificallylooksattheopportunitiespresentedbythesea,dovetailingwiththeBlueGrowthstrategy.Inaddition,itexaminestheopportunitiesandproblemsofmultipleuseofthesea.Fromtheperspectiveofcurrentdevelopmentsandthelong-termchallenges,thePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeaindicateswhatpolicywillberequiredduringthe2016-2021planningperiod,workingtowards2050.Inthisregard,elementsoftheSpatialAgenda,suchasinternationalrelationsandtheinter-actionbetweenlandandsea,arestressedandfleshedout.

11 This overview is not exhaustive. Further contiguous policy can be found at http://www.noordzeeloket.nl under spatial management, policies and regulations, policy.

12 See: Blue Growth Opportunities for Marine and Maritime Sustainable Growth, COM(2012) 494 and Communication from the Commission: Innovation in the Blue Economy: Realising the Potential of our Seas and Oceans for Jobs and Growth - COM(2014) 254/2.

13 Declaration of the European Ministers responsible for the Integrated Maritime Policy and the European Commission on a Marine and Maritime Agenda for Growth and Jobs - The Limassol Declaration, 9 October 2012.

14 Dutch House of Representatives, 2013-2014 session, 33 450, no. 24. http://www.noordzeeloket.nl/en/Images/North%20Sea%202050%20Spatial%20Agenda_LO%20RES_3562.pdf


Inpreparationforthis,tasksforthesubsoilhavebeenformulatedinconsultationwithlocalandregionalauthoritiesandotherstakeholders.ThreeofthesetasksrelatetotheNorthSea:sandextractionforcoastaldefence,cablesandpipelinesandsitesofarchaeologicalinterestintheNorthSea.ThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeasetsoutpolicyforthesetasks.

ManagementandDevelopmentPlanforNationalWatersTheManagementandDevelopmentPlanforNationalWaters(Bprw)isbeingdrawnupbyRijkswaterstaatanddescribesthemanagementofnationalwatersforthe2016-2021period.TheBprwfleshesoutthemanagementintocoretasks,designatedusesandareas.Thecoretasksare:floodriskmanagement,sufficientwater,clean&healthywaterandsafe&smoothshipping.Thecoretasksanddesignatedusesarecombinedinanarea-basedelaborationforrivers,canals,theIJsselmeerregion,theWaddenSea,theSouthwestDeltaandtheNorthSea.TheBprwisbeingcreatedinparallelwiththeNationalWaterPlan(includingthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea),asaresultofwhichpolicyandimplementationarebeingpreparedandharmonisedinconjunctionwithoneanother.


Administrativeframework

AvarietyofdivisionsfromvariousministrieshavepolicyresponsibilityfortheNorthSea.TheMinisterforInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentisthecabinetmemberresponsibleforcoordinatingtheintegratedNorthSeapolicyandmanagement.TheInterdepartmentalDirectors’ConsultationBodyNorthSea(lDON)issupportingtheMinisterwhenitcomestothecreation,elaborationandevaluationoftheintegratedNorthSeaPolicy.RepresentedwithinIDON,basedonavarietyofpolicydossiers,aredirectorsfromtheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironment,Rijkswaterstaat(theDutchmaritimeandmarinemanagementorganisation),theMinistryofEconomicAffairs,theMinistryofEducation,CultureandScience,theMinistryofDefence,andtheCoastguard.Rijkswaterstaatisthecoordinatingmanagementauthorityandiscollaboratingwiththeotherauthoritiesonharmonisationofthevariousmanagementtasks;particularlypermitissuanceandinformationmanagement.WithintheCoastguard,sixministriesareworkingtogetheronenforcementandservicestasksontheNorthSea.Forthepurposesoftheservicestasks(nauticalmanagementandactionintheeventofincidentsanddisasters)theCoastguardisdirectedbytheMinisterforInfrastructureandtheEnvironment.Forthepurposesofenforcement(generalenforcement,enforcementofenvironmentallegislation,trafficsafetyandfishing),theCoastguardisdirectedbythePermanentContactGroupMaintainingNorthSea(PKHN),inwhichtherelevantministriesarerepresented.

Beyondaroundonekilometerfromthecoast,theNorthSeaisnotunderthejurisdictionofmunicipalandprovincialauthorities16.AllaspectsofthepolicyandmanagementoftheNorthSeaaretheresponsibilityofthecentralgovernment.Moreover,adistinctionismadebetweenterritorialwaters(withinthe12-milezone),formingpartofDutchterritory,andtheDutchexclusiveeconomiczone(EEZ).TheNetherlandshasfewerjuris-dictionsoverthislatterpartoftheNorthSeathanitdoesoveritsterritorialwaters.Furthermore,theNorthSeacannotbesaidtobethepropertyofanynation.Inthelegalsense(undertheWaterFrameworkDirectiveandMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective),theEems-DollardandtheWesternScheldeareregardedastransitionalwatersandtheWaddenandtheEasternScheldeascoastalwaters.TheseareasfallwithinDutchspatialplanningpolicyunderplanningonland.Foralltheseareas,policyhasbeenformulatedintheNationalWaterPlan(section5)andFrameworkVisionsarebeingdrawnupforactivitiesonlandasdefinedbytheSpatialPlanningAct(Wetruimtelijkeordening).ThespatialplanningaspectofthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeaappliestotheDutchEEZandterritorialwatersthathavenotbeenclassifiedadministratively.Otheraspectsmayalsobeappropriatetothoseareasthathavebeenclassifiedadministratively.Themarineecosystemandthedesignateduses,asamatteroffact,haveaninteractionwithlandandthewater(s)thereon.

16 The 1-km boundary is calculated from the low water line. The boundaries are detailed in: Act of 2 November 1990 on the Extension of the Limits of the Coastal Provinces and Communities (Wet houdende regeling provincie- en gemeente-grenzen) along the North Sea coast from the municipality of Den Helder up to the municipality of Sluis, amending the Grants to Municipal Authorities Act (Financiële-Verhoudingswet) 1984 (Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 1990, 553). At the Maasvlakte, the boundary has been set at 3 kilometers. See also the Act of 8 December 1980 on Provincial Classification of the Wadden Sea (Wet tot provinciale indeling van de Waddenzee, Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 1980, 670) and the Act of 12 December 1985 on Municipal Classification of the Wadden Sea (Wet tot gemeentelijke indeling van de Waddenzee, Bulletin of Acts and Decrees 1985, 648).

1.4 Creation of an administrative and legal

framework for the North Sea


• TheNetherlandsispartytotheOSPARConvention24.Inconnectionwiththis,agreementsarebeingmadeon:

- monitoringofcontaminents; - assessingtheconditionofthesea; - regulatingoffshoreactivities,particularlydischarges; - reductionofphosphatesandheavymetals; - protectionofhabitatsandspecies; - tackling‘wasteatsea’.• AtEuropeanlevel,mattersareprimarilygovernedby

theBirds25andHabitatsDirectives26andtheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective.

• TheWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD)27appliestocoastalwaters:upto1mileforgoodecologicalstatusandupto12milesforgoodchemicalstatus.

• • TheCommonFisheriesPolicyregulatesfishingontheNorthSeaatEuropeanlevel28.

• TheMaltaConvention29isrelevantforunderwaterculturalheritage.

• Severalconventionsandagreementsapplyforthepurposesofcross-bordercoordinationofactivitiesincoastalandtransitionalwaters:theTrilateralWaddenSeaCooperationagreements,theEems-DollardConvention30andtheScheldtConventions31.TheoverlapwiththeNorthSeaPolicyiscoveredwithinthesearrangements.

24 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 2008, no. 60.

25 Council Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds.26 Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural

habitats and of wild fauna and flora.27 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the

Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy.

28 Regulation (EU) no. 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy.

29 European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1992, no. 97. It is also referred to as the ‘Valletta Treaty’.

30 Treaty between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany on the cooperation in the area of the Eems and the Dollard, as well as adjacent areas, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1984, no. 118.

31 See the website of the Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Commission (http://www.vnsc.eu) for an overview of the treaties and conventions.

Legalframework17

Toalargeextent,internationalframeworksdeterminepolicyontheNorthSea.TheUnitedNationsConventionontheLawoftheSea(UNCLOS)18isthelegalframeworkwithinwhichallmeasuresandactivitiesintheseamustbeimplementedandperformed.Ongloballevelagree-mentsarebeingmadeinavarietyofcontextsonactivitiesrelatingtotheseaandonprotectionofthemarineenvironment.• • TheconventionsoftheInternationalMaritime

Organisation(IMO),fallingundertheUN,areimportantforshipping.Inadditiontotheregulationofshippingroutes,importantconventionsinclude:

- TheMARPOLConvention19,whichregulatespollution causedbyshipping(includingoilpollutionandthe useofantifoulingpaint);

- theSOLASConvention20,whichdescribesthesafety andsecurityrequirementsseagoingvesselsmust satisfy;

- theBallastWaterConvention21,whichisgeared towardspreventingtheintroductionof‘foreign species’.

• TheNetherlandsispartytotheLondonConvention22andtheaccompanying1996Protocol23,whichimposesworldwiderestrictionsondumpingandincineratingwastematteratsea.

17 This overview is not exhaustive. Further contiguous legal frameworks can be found at http://www.noordzeeloket.nl under spatial management, policies and regulations.

18 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1984, no. 55.

19 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 59, 1973, no. 16.

20 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1977, no. 77.

21 International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 2005, no. 44.

22 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 1973, no. 172.

23 1996 Protocol accompanying the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 2011, no. 72.


Atnationallevel,anumberofstatutoryframeworksareimportantforformulatingtheNorthSeaPolicyoftheNetherlands.ThecommonalityisthattheyregulateuseoftheNorthSeaandpreventadverseeffectsofactivitiesorkeepthesewithinacceptablelimits.Theunderlyinginterestsincludesafety,ensuringenvironmentalquality(e.g.intermsofwater,seabedandsubsoil),protectingtheecosystemandsitesofnaturalandarchaeologicalinterest32.

32 For further information on the national statutory frameworks, see http://www.noordzeeloket.nl under spatial management, policies and regulations, laws.


1.5 Reading guide

Section2setsoutthelong-termvisionfortheNorthSea.ThisvisionisbasedontheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaandindicateshowtheNorthSeaandthepolicywillormustdevelop.Elementsfromthevisioncanbefoundthroughoutthedocument.

Section3describesthemarineecosystemoftheNorthSeaandtheusesfromtheperspectiveofthecurrentsituationanddevelopments.Thisisfollowedbyanexplanationoftheapplicabletasksandvisionforeachdesignateduse,whichtallieswiththelong-termvisionfromsection2.Subsequently,thesectionlooksathowthecurrentsituation,developments,visionandchallengesresultinthepolicyforthe2016-2021planningperiod.Inthisregard,actionsaredelineatedforfurtherpolicydevelopment.

Section4elucidatesthreesocialtasksforwhichpolicyissetoutinthePolicyDocument.ThesepertaintotheMSFDprogrammeofmeasures,windenergyandthesandextractionstrategy.

Section5offersanassessmentframeworkforallpermitapplicationsforactivitiesrelatingtofunctions/designatedusesontheNorthSea.Basedonthisframework,decisionscanbemadeintermsofdesignationofthespaceontheNorthSea,takingintoconsiderationavarietyofframeworks.

Section6describestheinternationalcooperation:whichpartnershipstheNetherlandsisengagedinandwhatrolecouldanddoestheNetherlandshavetofulfilwithinthesepartnerships?

Section7concludeswithanoverviewoutliningthepolicy,theactionstobeundertakenduringtheplanningperiodandthefinancing.

2



Long-term vision 2.1 North Sea 2050 Spatial Agenda

TheCentralGovernmentembracesingeneralthemainpointsoftheadviceissuedbytheCouncilfortheLivingEnvironmentandInfrastructureonboostingthesignificanceoftheNorthSeatosociety33.Inlinewiththeadvice,theCentralGovernmentisendeavouringtopursueadevelopment-orientedapproachtotheseathatleavesroomfornewinitiativesandallowsflexiblemanagementofthesea.TheNorthSea2050SpatialAgenda34fulfilsthisneedforlong-termprospects.

TheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaprovidesanintegratedconceptualframeworkformarineandmaritimepolicycentringonresponsible,safeandspace-efficientuseofthesea.TheSpatialAgendaisgearedtowardssustainabledevelopmentand,fromalongtermperspective,providesananswertotheEUstrategyfor‘BlueGrowth’.35Attentionhasspecificallybeenpaidtotherelationshipwithactivitiesonland.Jointanalysisofthelongterm,theinterconnectionbetweentheecologicalandeconomicsystem,andtherelationshipbetweenwhatispossibleinternationally,attheleveloftheNorthSeaandintheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaisyieldingvaluableinsightsthatwillallowoptimumutilisationofthesea.TheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaprovidesanew,keenervisionofthesea,identifiesfivetopicsforadditionalattention(seesection2.3)andspecifiesanumberoffollow-upactions,



35 The long-term strategy for increased sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. See: Blue Growth Opportunities for Marine and Maritime Sustainable Growth, COM(2012) 494 and Communication from the Commission: Innovation in the Blue Economy: Realising the Potential of our Seas and Oceans for Jobs and Growth - COM(2014) 254/2. See also: Declaration of the European Ministers responsible for the Integrated Maritime Policy and the European Commission on a Marine and Maritime Agenda for Growth and Jobs - The Limassol Declaration, 9 October 2012.

aproportionofwhichwillbeaddressedduringthe2016-2021planningperiod.

Thevisionforthefutureisnotsetinstone.Theroadto2050willdependonthematterofwhetherthepotentialoftheseathathasbeenoutlinedcansuccesfullybedevelopedwithintheavailablespaceatsea.Furthermore,thestateofthemarineenvironmentwillrequireconstantmonitoringandanadaptivelong-termvision.Anenduring,development-orientedapproachtomaterializethepotentialofthesea,tasksandmeasureswillbenecessarytoarriveatsuitablesolutions.Thisvisionoffersframeworksfordrawinguppolicy,alsoduringtheplanningperiodofthisPolicyDocument.


Figure 2.1 North Sea 2050 Spatial Agenda

Legend

Cohesion & Cooperation

North Sea as system:

- Ecosystem in balance

- Energy grid

- Clean shipping

- Sustainable fishing

Three coastal landscapes:

- Wadden area

- Hollandse Boog

- Southwestern Delta

Mainport Rotterdam / Logistical Delta

Energy Valley

12-mile-zone

Knowledge export

Existing economic sectors:

- Carbon Capture & Storage

- Conventional Energy

- Logistics

- Offshore wind & services

- Shipbuilding

- Fishing

- Flood defences

Blue Growth Sectors:

- Blue Biotech

- Deep Sea Mining

- Energy from water

- Mariculture

- Recreation and tourism

Blue Growth Sectors testing ground (indicative)

Energy

North Sea Energy Grid:

- existing international high voltage cable

- new international high voltage cable (indicative)

- existing international gas pipeline

Reuse of ‘local’ oil and gas infrastructure

Exploration of multi-functional offshore

windfarms:

- existing/awarded/subsidy application

- wind farm: lease or agreement for lease

Multi-functional wind farms from construction:

- in designated wind energy area

- in search area within 12-mile-zone

Nature & Food

Ecoshape (indicative)

Marine Natura 2000 areas &

ecologically valuable areas

Target group species:

- sea mammals (SCI)

- birds (SPI)

- fish (SCI)

- benthos (SCI)

Flyway

Fish migration to rivers

Balanced fish stocks (indicative)

Transport & Mobility

Motorways of the Sea

Robust traffic separation scheme (TSS)

Ro-Ro corridors (indicative)

Reservation Willem Barentszroute

Expansion of LNG facilities:

- existing/planned import terminal

Land & Sea

Integrated vision 12-mile-zone

Archaeologically valuable areas

Protection of coastal foundation (-20m NAP line)

P.M.

P.M.

P.M.

P.M.

P.M.

P.M.

P.M.P.M.

P.M.Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in co-production with Ministry of Economic Affairs

Cartography MUST urbanism, June 2014

North Sea 2050 Spatial Agenda Spatial developments & oppertunities 2014 - 2050


2.2 Overarching vision

TheNetherlandsbenefitsfromasafe,clean,healthyandecologicallydiverseNorthSeathatcontributestothecountry’seconomicandsocialneeds.TheseaalsohasimportantsocioculturalandhistoricalsignificancefortheNetherlands,andisasourceofknowledge.Thecontributionoftheseacanonlybeoptimalifitsnaturalresilienceis–further–restoredandaugmentedandtheappealoftheseaismaintainedforeveryone.ThecruxofthepolicyfortheNorthSeaistocollaboratewithpartiesinsocietysoastosteertowardsdesiredusageintermsofspaceandtime,ecologyandeconomyandtofurtherdevelopthenaturalpotentialofseaandcoast.Furthermore,effortsarebeingmadetocombinefunctions.Insomecases,functionswillhavetoremainseparate,forinstanceforreasonsofsafetyaspectsorecologicalvulnerability.

Long-termdevelopmentoftheseainitsfullpotentialwillhelplimitstrainontheavailablespace.Strenuouseffortsarebeingmadetobringaboutintegratedspatialdevelopmentatseaandalongthecoast.

Thebasisforsustainableuseisacleanandhealthysea,createdbymeansofthenatureandenvironmentalpolicy.Theactivitiesatseaaresustainableandintegrated:(designated)useshavebeenharmonisedwithoneanother.Thisgivesrisetodevelopment-oriented,policy-basedsteeringintermsofuseofthesea.Bymakingthemostoftheavailablespacecollectivelyandsustainably,theDutchportspreservetheopportunitytobecompetitiveandtofulfiltheirroleasaninternationaleconomichub.Moreover,duetosandextractionthesafetyofthecoastismaintainedandatransitiontoasustainable,combinedenergysupplyisrenderedpossible,allowingforthetouristappealofthecoast.BydemonstratingtheopportunitiesforsustainableusagepresentedbytheNorthSeainpractice(intestinggrounds,forinstance),theseaoffersaspringboardfortheDutchbusinesscommunitytomarketouroffshoremaritimeknowledgeandknow-how.ThisensuresthattheNetherlandsretainsaleadingposition.

Thetransitiontowardsdevelopment-orientedpolicyfortheseademandsanotherrolefromthepartiesinvolved.Forthegovernmentitmeansamoreactiverolewhenitcomestoprotectingnature,supportingthesustainablemarketsectorsandbespokeregulations.Formarketpartiesthereareopportunitiestobefoundincooperationwithotherusers,makinguseofthepowerofthemaritimeclusterandformulatingproposalswherepolicyislacking.Researchinstitutes,NGOs,universitiesandotherhighereducationinstitutescouldunitewithmarketpartiesmoretotapintothepotentialoftheseaandcarryoutresearchintoeffectsonthemarineenvironment.

Toagreaterorlesserextent,thedevelopmentsoutlinedarerelevanttoallNorthSeacountries.Theadministrativeandpoliticaldivisionofresponsibilitiesforterritorialwatersinparticular(upto12nauticalmiles)differsfromnationtonation.TheEUDirectiveestablishingaframe-workformaritimespatialplanning36requirescloserinternationalcooperationwhenitcomestoformulatingplansandforincorporationoftheinteractionsbetweenlandandseatherein.Whenputtingthelong-termvisionintopractice,theregionalauthoritiesofthecountriesaroundtheNorthSeaareworkingtogetheronsustainableprosperitymatters,forexampleinrelationtothetourismindustry,interconnectivitybetweenports,energyandclimatechangeandadaptation.



ofbiodiversity,shouldbetheobjectoffurtherstudy.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactioninsection7.2.

Sustainablefoodsupplyfromthesea(fishing)andthemarineenvironmentaretwotopicsthatexhibitinterde-pendenceandinterconnectedness.Thisinterconnected-nesspartlyexplainstheinherenttensionthatsurroundsthetwotopics.Nonetheless,bothbenefitfromahealthyecosystem.Thiscommondenominatorisusefulwhenfleshingoutbothchallengesinmoredetail.

Energytransitionatsea

Duetotheroll-outofwindenergy,energyproductionatseawilltakeupmorespace.Insomecases,commercialandrecreationalsailingvesselswillneedtoaltertheircourse,andthefishableareawillshrink.Thetrickistomanagethespaceaseconomicallyaspossibleandtomakethemostoftheopportunitiestoincreaseenergygenerationpersquarenauticalmile.Marketpartieswillbegivenachancetotestnewformsofenergygenerationatsea.ThemarketfortidalandwaveenergyisincreasinglyfocusedonthecapabilityofconvertingthelowcurrentvelocityandlimitedwaveheightinDutchwatersintoelectricity.Inenergyzonesandenergyfarmsatsea,varioustechno-logiesareusedtoconvertthepowerofthewindandseaintoelectricity.Fromtheperspectiveofincreasinguseofspace,thereisaneedforanEnergyMasterPlancoveringthe2030-2050period.Numerousotherdevelopmentscouldfeatureinthisplan,suchasaproductionplatform/artificialislandforwindenergy,opportunitiesfordeepgeothermalpowerandaninternationalelectricitygridatsea(NorthSeagrid).Additionally,possibilitiescouldbefleshedoutvis-à-vismakingthemostofexistingandfutureinfra-structureatseaforoffshoreoilandgasextractionandelectricitygeneration,suchasforthestorageandtransportofCO2,ortechnologieslikePower2Gas.Afterall,investmentsinthisregarddoextendoveralongperiod.TheEnergyMasterPlanhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

2.3 Five topics

TheSpatialAgendaspecifiesfivetopicsthatareinstrumentalindevelopmentsontheNorthSeaintherun-upto2050:

BuildingwithnatureintheNorthSea

Goodenvironmentalstatusisapreconditionforhumanuseofthesea.Thetransitiontaskencompassesreinforce-mentoftheintrinsic,naturalpowerofthesea,frombothanecologicalandaneconomicperspective.Thereareopportunitiestocreatearobust,resilientNorthSeabybuildingwithnatureatsea.Inthisrespect,theseaandmarineenvironmentareutilisedinawaythatbolstersthemarineecosystem.

Coastalsafetyincreasinglyintegrateswithspatialdevelopment.37Affordable,sustainableextractionofsandisnecessaryforthepurposesofreinforcingourcoast,buildinginfrastructureandintheconstructionsector.TheCabinetpreferscoastaldefencesthatareasnaturalaspossible:sandreplenishmentusingsandobtainedfromtheseawherepossibleand‘hard’defenceswhereneeded.Inordertoensureasufficientsupplyofsandintheshortandlongterm,astrategyforsandextractionisrequired.Section4.4ofthisPolicyDocumentsetsoutthisstrategy.

Wherenecessary,itisimportanttosparevulnerableareas,particularlyifatNorthSealeveltheseareasmakeadecisivecontributiontoproducingarichanddiverseecosystem.

Butconservationofthemarineecosystemwillnotbeachievedsolelybyprotectingnatureandtheenvironmentandtacklingcurrentproblemsintheshortterm–moreispossible.Useoftheseainwaysthatmaketheseacleanerandhealthier(forexample,cultivatingseaweed),orthathelpittorecovermoreswiftlyafteruse(forexample,thestateinwhichsandextractionpitsareleft)mustbefostered.Furthermore,thepossibilitiesfor(natural)hardsubstrate,suchasthereturnofoysterbedsandthecontributionofsuchthingsaswindfarmstotherecovery

37 National Coastal Vision. Part of the Delta Programme 2014, Dutch House of Representatives, 2013-2014 session, 33 750-J, no. 4 (appendix).


coastline,butinadditiontothistheyalsocomesailingtoourcitiesandcoastalresorts.Makingthemostoftheopportunitiestheseaofferswillbeeasieriftheseopportunitiesaresupportedbysociety.

Accessibilityandshipping

TheincreasedscaleoflargecargoflowsmakesthatthenumberofvesselsheadingfortheportsinZeeland,RotterdamandAmsterdamwillremainroughlythesame.Thesizeofthevesselswillincrease,however,andtheroutethroughtheArcticOceanpasttheNorthPolewillbecomeincreasinglynavigable.Maritimetrafficpolicywillchangeasaresultofincreasedintensityofcoastalshipping,includingcoastalshippingtraffictoandfromGreatBritain,andthemovementofvesselstoandfromoffshoreactivitiessuchasconstructionandmaintenanceofwindfarms.Acloseeyewillhavetobekeptontheeffectsofthisintermsofspace,safetyandecology.Safeandenvironmentallyfriendlyshipping,theaccessibilityofDutchportsandgoodpassageareambitionsforshippingthatwillprevailforboththepresentandthefuture.

Multipleuseofspace

Sparingtheecologicallymostimportantareasincombinationwiththetaskofsafeguardingareasforsafe,smoothshipping,fishingandrecreationwillrequiresmart,alternativemeansofdealingwithlocationsoffshoresoastoenableaddedvaluetobedelivered.

CooperatingonspatialplanningtasksinabusycountrywithalimitedsurfaceareaandstringentecologicalrequirementsisoneoftheNetherlands’strengths.Thisstrengthisalsobeingputtouseatsea.MultifunctionaluseoftheNorthSeaby2050isbasedoncomprehensiveplanningintermsofspaceandtimebycombiningfunctions.Thevisionfor2050entailsonlylimitingareas(temporarilyorpermanently)toasingleformofusageifthevulnerabilityofthemarineenvironmentrequiresthisinsitu.Thismeansthatuserswillalreadybeobligedtotakeoneanotherintoconsiderationatanearlystage(planning,design,construction).Themajorityofopportunitiesformultipleusesrelatetocombiningactivitiesthatlogicallygotogetherfromanecologicaland/oreconomicperspective.Inthisregard,itpertainstosuchthingsascombiningtypesofelectricitygenerationontheonehandandnatureandfoodontheother.

Connectionbetweenlandandsea

Connectingchallengesanddevelopmentsonlandandatseawillbolstertheidentityandeconomyofcoastalareas.Inadditiontothephysicalrelationshipbetweenthecoastaldevelopment,coastalsafety,sandextractionandtherelationshipbetweenthecoastalandmarineecosy-stem,coastalareasareabreedinggroundfornewdevelopmentsatsea.Involvingprovinces,municipalitiesaswellaswaterboardsinpolicymakingonmatterspertainingtotheseaisdesirableinviewoftheirconside-rableinterestsinthesematters.ManyDutchpeopledependdirectlyorindirectlyonthesea,professionallyorrecreationallyforinstance.Touristsaredrawntotheiconicwaterworkslandmarksalongandbeyondthe


3

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Draft Maritime Spatial Policy Plan Netherlands for consultation |

oftheNorthSeawithagreaternumberofpermanentlyinstalledobjects.Multipleuseofspacecallsforeffectiveharmonisationofthedesignateduses.

NauticalrisksontheNorthSeaareperiodicallyinventoriedandassessed.Measuresaretakenifneedbe.Inadditiontotheprobabilityandeffectofanunsafesituation,riskperceptionandacceptancealsoplayarolewhenitcomestotakingmeasures.Stakeholdersareinvolvedwhendevisingsafetymeasures.Theycancontributetheirknowledgeandexperiencewhendrawingupnewpolicy,suchasforthepossibilityofrecreationalvesselstopassthroughwindfarms.

Thetopicofsafetyismultifaceted,includingaspectsrelatingtosuchmattersasspatialplanning,theenviron-ment,humanbehaviour,thesafetyofthe‘hardware’,safetyinemergencysituations,etc.Theseaspects,incombinationwithexistingpolicyandexistinglawsandregulations,callforatransparentassessmentprocess.ThefundamentalprinciplesforthisprocessandthewayinwhichitwillhavetotakeshapeareembeddedintheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironment’svision‘DealingWithSafetyConsciously:KeyThemes’.38Suchassessmentshavethepotentialtoresultinspecificpolicyforeachdesignateduse.ThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeafocusesontheuseofspaceandthemarineecosystem.Thesafetyaspectsassociatedwiththesethingsaredescribedalongwiththedesignatedusesintheremainderofthissectionandinsection4.

38 Dutch Senate, 2013-2014 session, Parliamentary Paper 32 862 no. L, Appendix “Dealing with Safety Consciously: Key Themes”.

Safeandsustainableeconomicdevelopment

TheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaisfocusedonbringingaboutsafeandsustainableeconomicdevelopmentoftheNorthSea,whilstconservingandrestoringtheintegrityofthemarineecosystem.Thissectiondescribeshowdesignateduses(economicorotherwise)developwithintheframeworkofthemarineecosystem.Foreachdesignateduseanindicationisgivenofthepresentsituation,thedevelopmentsunderway,thevisionandthetasks,aswellastheresultantpolicy.Aclosingsectiondescribestheinteractionsbetweendesignatedusesatseaandonland.

Inthecaseofwindenergyatseaandsandextraction,thechangesaresuchthat,eveninviewofthelong-termvision,theywillresultinsocialchallenges.Thesechallengesrequireessentialnewpolicyforthe2016-2021period.Thispolicyissetoutinmoredetailinsection4.ThesectionalsoincorporatesthespecificmeasuresforthepurposesofimplementingtheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(MSFD),gearedtowardsfosteringandmaintainingthehealthoftheecosystemandrenderingusagesustainable.

Inadditiontosustainableuseofthemarineecosystem,safeuseiskey.Moreattentionneedstobedevotedtosafetyasaconsequenceofincreasing,morediverseuse

The marine ecosystem and designated uses3.1 Introduction

Table 3.1 Actual use of space in the Dutch part of the North Sea

Designateduse Numbers Useofspaceinkm2

Oilandgasextraction 161 platforms 126

Commercialsurfacemineralextraction 13 million m3/annum60-90 in 5 years

Coastalreplenishmentsandextraction 12 million m3/annum

Dumpingsitesfordredging 6 37

Cables(inuse) 3300 km 3300

Pipelines 4500 km 4500

Shippingroutes 3600

Militaryexercisezones 5 4200

Windenergy CompletedUnder construction Planned

228 MW730 MW3450 MW

43125575 at 6MW/km2

Natureconservationareas VoordeltaVlakte van de RaanNorth Sea Coastal ZoneDogger BankFrisian FrontCleaver Bank

9241751445 4715 2880 1235

Fishing EEZ and territorial waters minus areas closed for nature and energy

DutchpartoftheNorthSea 58000


Examples of safety aspects in the Policy Document on the North Sea

• A design criterion has been developed for wind farms to regulate the distance from shipping lanes.• When extracting surface minerals, flood risk management in a changing climate plays a significant role.• Mining platforms require a safety zone off limits to vessels and an obstacle-free zone for landing helicopters.• For shipping there is a comprehensive routing system in place, and the fact of the route through the Arctic Ocean becoming increasingly navigable presents new safety questions.• The Ministry of Defence uses the North Sea to ensure that the armed forces are well trained and operational, enabling it to guarantee the country’s safety.• In the case of recreational vessels, passage through wind farms is a matter that calls for more detailed measures and the increasing number and increasing capacity of cruise ships will require extra efforts in emergency situations.

Nationalpolicytasksandactivitiesinthenationalinterest

TheFrameworkVisiononInfrastructureandSpace39formulatesthefollowingnationalspatialplanningchallengesfortheNorthSea:• Thepreservationofthecoastalfoundationzoneand

implementationofthearea-basedCoastalandWaddenRegionsub-programmesoftheDeltaProgrammeinassociationwithlocalandregionalgovernmentauthorities.

• ThepreservationandprotectionofNatura2000areasandthemarineecosystem.

• Maintainingtheunobstructedviewofthehorizonupto12nauticalmilesfromthecoast.

• Providingspatialpossibilitiesforthemainnetworkforthetransportof(hazardous)substancesthroughpipelines.

39 Dutch House of Representatives, 2011–2012 session, 32 660, no. 50.

• Theprotectionofarchaeologicalvalues(submergedsettlements,shipwrecksandotherarchaeologicalvalues).

WithintheEuropeanandinternationalframeworks(WaterFrameworkDirective,MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective,theBirdsandHabitatsDirectives,andtheMaltaConvention),theCabinetwillgiveprioritytoactivitiesthatareinthenationalinterest:• Oilandgasextraction:asmuchnaturalgasand

petroleumaspossibleisbeingextractedfromDutchfieldsintheNorthSea,ensuringthatthemostismadeofthepotentialofnaturalgasandpetroleumsupplies.

• CO2storage:sufficientspaceforstoringCO2indepletedoilandgasfieldsorinundergroundaquifers.

• Shipping:awholesystemoftrafficseparationschemes,clearwaysandanchoragescapableofaccommodatingvesselssafelyandsmoothly.

• Sandextraction:sufficientspaceforsandextractionforcoastalprotection,counteringfloodrisksandsandforuseonland.

• Generatingrenewableenergy:sufficientareasforwindenergyandotherformsofrenewableenergy.

• Defence:sufficientmilitaryexercisezonesintheNorthSea.

Withtheaidoftheassessmentframework,theCentralGovernmentwillevaluatepermissionsforsea-basedactivities(seesection5).



3.2 Marine ecosystem

Currentsituationanddevelopments

Duetodifferencesinwaterdepth,nutrientrichness,saltlevel,currentsandcompositionoftheseabed,theNorthSeaishometoavarietyoforganisms.

WarmerwaterflowsinfromtheEnglishChannel,colderAtlanticwaterflowsinfromthenorth,andnutrient-richfreshwaterisintroducedbythemajorrivers.Richfrontalsystemscanbefoundwheretheseflowsmeet,suchasattheFrisianFront.

TheseabedvariesfromfinetocoarsesandinthesouthernpartoftheNorthSeaandalongthecoast,withsilt-richgroundinthecentre(suchastheCentralOysterGrounds),sandbanks(suchastheBrownRidgeandDoggerBank)andasmallsurfaceareaofgravelandstones(suchastheCleaverBank).

Thestripalongthecoastrequiresextraattention.Herewefindastronginteractionbetweenlandandsea.Saltwaterandfreshwatermix,andtheshallowsectionsalongthecoastconstituteanimportantsourcefornatureasawhole.Theseareimportantbreedinggroundsandnurseriesformanyspeciesoffish.TogetherwiththeWaddenSeaandtheSouthwesternDelta,theNorthSeaisasignificantlinkintheinternationalsystemofmigrationroutesandforagingterritoriesforbirds(suchasthecommonguillemotandred-throatdiver)andfish(suchasthesealampreyandeel),aswellasbeingahabitatforsealsandporpoises.ThequalitiesoftheecosystemandmarineenvironmentintheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaandthepartsoftheNorthSeaofothercountriessituatedthereoninfluenceoneanother.Consequently,internationalharmonisationandcooperationarebeingeffectedtoensureaclean,healthy,species-richseathroughinitiativesastheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(MSFD).

TheDutchhaveacloserelationshipwiththeNorthSeaforcenturies.Firstandforemostintermsofshippingandfishing,butlateronforrecreationalpurposes,generatingenergyandextracting(surface)mineralsandquarrying.TheNorthSeaisoneofthemostintensivelyusedseasintheworld.Humanactivityandclimatechangehaveresultedinchangesin,anddamagetonature.

TheinitialassessmentcarriedoutinlightoftheMSFDdemonstratedthattheeffectsofphysical,chemicalandorganicdisturbancesinthepreviouscenturyareimpac-tingthecurrentstateofthemarineecosystemtovaryingdegrees.Barriersintheformofdikeanddams,seabeddisturbance,disturbancescausedbyrecreationandunderwaternoise,andtheintroductionsofnon-native(exotic)specieshaveadverseeffectsonthenaturalcommunities.Itisnotpossibletosingleoutathreatgreaterthantheothers.Rather,itisasumofeffectsofhumanactivityinanaturalsystemasyetnotfullyunderstood.Forcertainisthatontheseabedinparticularvulnerablecommunities-havebeenaffectedbyphysicaldamage,mainlyasaresultoftraditionalbottomtrawling(‘dragging’).Fishstockshavebecomelessdiverse;largefisharerareorhavedisappeared.Populationsofsomevulnerablespecies(suchassharksandrays)havedeclined.Othershavedisappeared,suchastheEuropeanseasturgeon,commonskateandEuropeanflatoyster.Consequently,workisbeingdoneonproducingaNorthSeaactionplanfortherecoveryofvulnerablesharksandraysandresearchisongoingintotherecoveryofshellfishbeds.Theseareactionsincludedforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Inrecentyearsaturnforthebetterhasbecomevisibleinthemarineecosystem.Themajorityoffishspeciesfishedcommercially(suchasplaiceandherring)aredoingbetterthantheywerepreviously.Therearerapiddevelopmentstakingplaceintermsofalternativefishingtechniquesthataremoreenvironmentallyfriendly.Acautious,positivetrendreversalisevidentinthedevelopmentofmarinemammalpopulations.FishmigrationisbeinggivenanewedthepossibilitybyslightlyopeningtheHaringvlietlocksandtheprospectofconstructingafishmigrationriverintheIJsselmeerClosureDam.Therefortunatelyhasalsobeenareductioninpollutionofthesea.

MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(MSFD)TheMSFDobligesEUmemberstatestodrawupamarinestrategyfortheirmarinewatersandtoimplementthenecessarymeasurestoachieveormaintainagoodenvironmentalstatusby2020.Thescopeofthedirectiveis


environmentalstatusandenvironmentalobjectivesby2020aredetailedandexplainedinsection4.2,andwillbereportedtotheEuropeanCommissionasPart3oftheMarineStrategyattheendof2015.Bymeansofthisbroadprogrammeofmeasures,theCabinetisdedicatingitselftoachieveandmaintainagoodenvironmentalstatusintheNorthSea.Emphasistherebyisoncooperationwithneighbouringcountries,workingonsustainability,andtacklingthekeysourcesofpollutionandonmonitoringthedevelopments.

Visionandpolicytasking

InthefuturetheNorthSeaisaclean,healthyandproductivesea.Theecosystemwillfunctionoptimallyandwillberesilient,thewaterwillbecleananduseoftheNorthSeawillbesustainable.ThiswillensurethattheNorthSeaprovidesopportunitiesbothfornatureandtheenvironmentandforeconomicactivities.

Withinthisvisionofthefuture,theNorthSeahasacharacteristicdiversityofspeciesin,onandabovethewater,withbalancedcompositionintermsofage.Thereisampleroomforadiversityofrobust,resilientmarinehabitatswithinacoherentnetwork.InalargeproportionoftheNorthSea,vulnerableseabedswillnotbedisturbed,orwillbedisturbedless,asaresultofwhichlifeontheseabedwillhavebeenabletorecover.Insomeplaces,organicallyformedhardbottomsubstrates,suchasshellfishbanksandtubewormreefs,willarise.Thesewillpresentafertile(breeding)groundandopportunitiesforsettlementforotherspecies(returningorotherwise).Thenutrientandfoodsupplywillensureavariedfoodweb,fromseabedcreaturestotoppredatorssuchassharks,harbourporpoisesandseals.Enablingbarrierstobepassedandeffectinggradualtransitionsfromsaltwatertofreshwaterwillhaveincreasedthenumberofmigratoryfish(salmon,eelandsturgeon,forexample)migratingbetweenseaandrivers.SustainableuseofthenaturalresourcesoftheNorthSeawillnotputstrainontheecosystem.

Theobjectiveistoreach(international)targetsforthe

thecomprehensiveenvironmentalandecosystempolicyandencompassesbiodiversity,exotic(non-native)species,fishstocks,foodweb,theseabed,hydrography,pollutantsandeutrophication,litterandunderwaternoise.Thestartingpointsaretheecosystemapproachandtheprecautionaryprinciple.

Part1oftheMarineStrategyfortheDutchpartoftheNorthSea2012-2020wasadoptedbytheCabinetin201240andreportedtotheEuropeanCommission.Thispartencompassestheinitialassessmentofthecurrentenvironmentalstatus,thedescriptionofthegoodenvironmentalstatusandenvironmentalobjectivestobeachievedby2020alongwithassociatedindicatorsandthepolicyobjectivesarisingfromtheseintheperiodleadingupto2020.ItalsodescribestheCabinet’svisionontheimplementationoftheMSFDobligationsandanalysesthepolicy’sefficacy.Basedonthis,thepolicyobjectivehasbeenformulated,andtheCabinethasindicatedthreestartingpointsforaddiotinalmeasures.Prioritieshavealsobeenspecifiedfortheknowledgeprogramming.In2018thisaspectofthemarinestrategywillbeupdated,andthishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Part2oftheMarineStrategy,theMSFDmonitoringprogramme,wasreportedtotheEuropeanCommissioninOctober2014.41ItdescribesthemeasurementprogrammeusedtomonitortheenvironmentalstatusandguidesthemonitoringrequiredfortheimplementationoftheBirdsandHabitatsDirectives.Thepointofdepartureisthecurrentmonitoringstemmingfromnationalandinternationalobligations(suchastheWFD,BirdsandHabitatsDirectives/Natura2000,CommonFisheriesPolicy,IMO,OSPAR).TheprogrammeisadjustedeachyearonthebasisofnewinsightsandinternationalharmonisationinconnectionwithOSPARandtheInternationalCouncilfortheExplorationoftheSea(ICES).Theannualupdatehasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Themeasuresrequiredtobeabletoachievethegood

40 Dutch House of Representatives, 2012-2013 session, 33 450, no. 1.41 Dutch House of Representatives, 2013-2014 session, 33 450, no.

25, Appendix “Marine Strategy for the Dutch Part of the North Sea 2012-2020, Part 2”.


marineecosystemandenvironmentalqualitybywayofcomprehensivepolicy,measurestoprotectmarinebiodiversity,creationofanetworkofmarineprotectedareasandreducedpollution.Theecosystemapproachandtheprecautionaryprinciplewillbeactivelyapplied.

Thefollowingthreestartingpointsareusedineffortstoachievethesegoals:

1 Rendering use sustainable:Inordertopreventchangesinthestatusofthemarineecosystemandthemarineenvironmentaswellaslossofbiodiversity,andinordertofosterrecovery,itwillbenecessarytotakemeasuresgearedtowardsmakinguseoftheseasustainable.UseherereferstovariousactivitiesengagedinontheNorthSeaandatthecoast,aswellasthepressuretheseactivitiesexertontheNorthSeaenvironment.Theassessmentframeworkforpermitissuance(seesection5)providespreconditionsfromtheperspectiveoftheNorthSeaaspartoftheNetworkofProtectedAreasandfromtheperspectiveoftheEIADirective.WithinthescopeoftheIMOandCommonFisheriesPolicy,theCabinetseekstomakeshippingandfishingsustainable.Forthepurposesofreducingpollutioncausedbysourcesonland,jointeffortswillbemadewiththeimplementationofenvironmentalpolicyforthelandandtheimplemen-tationoftheWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD).TheCabinetaimstobuildwithnatureandeffectsynergywithdesignatedeconomicusessuchaswindenergy,sandextractionandfishing(seealsosection2.3).

2 Area-oriented and species-oriented approach:TheCabinetaimstoemployanarea-orientedapproachtosafeguardprotectionofvulnerableecologicalareasandspecies(wherenecessary),asinthecaseofNatura2000areasandtheMSFDsearchareaforseabedprotectionmeasures.Thefundamentalprincipleisnottocloseoffareasassuch,butrathertoregulateorsuppressusethatendangerstheprotectiveenvironmentalvalues.

3 Creating additional opportunities for ecosystem recovery:Bymeansofthemarinestrategy,theCabinetaimstoreinforcetheintrinsicnaturalrobustnessandresilienceofthesea.Thiswillenhancethesea’svaluetosociety.Tothisend,theMSFD’sprogrammeofmeasurescontainsanumberofstudiesthatovertimecouldleadtoactionsandmeasurestoactivelyrestoreecosystemsthathavedisappeared(seesection4.2).

Policy

TheCabinetisoptingforsustainable,space-efficientandsafeuseoftheNorthSeainharmonywiththemarineecosystem.Protectionanddevelopmentofthemarineecosystem,improvingtheenvironmentalqualityandrenderingusesustainablehavebeenrecordedasobjectivesintheWFD,theMSFD,andtheBirdsandHabitatsDirectives.

HabitatprotectionTheBirdsandHabitatsDirectives,MSFDandOSPARConventionstipulatethatmarineareaswithparticularecologicalvaluearetobeprotected.Intime,protectionoftheseareasmustgiverisetoacoherentnetworkofprotectedareasatsea.Managementplansaredrawnupfordesignatedareas.Thishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Asof1January2014thescopeoftheNatureConservancyAct1998andtheFloraandFaunaActwasextendedtotheouterlimitsoftheDutchEEZ.InthecaseofHabitatsDirectiveareasDoggerBankandCleaverBank,andBirdsDirectiveareaFrisianFront,theprocedurefordesignatingtheseasNatura2000areaswasinitiatedinautumn2014.Itisanticipatedthattheseareaswillbedesignatedduringthefirsthalfof2015.Withinthreeyearsofthisdesigna-tion,managementplanswillhavetobecompletedfortheseareas,containingtheconservationobjectives,thedetailsoftheseintermsofscope,spaceandtime,howtheseobjectiveswillbefulfilledandwhatthismeansforexistingandnewactivities.

Duringthe2009-2012period,researchwascarriedoutintopossibleadditionalprotectedareasintheNorthSea.42FromthisitemergedthattheareasGasSeepandZeelandRidgesdidnotmeetthecriteriafordesignationasHabitatsDirectiveareas.Follow-upstudiesonBorkumReefGroundandBrownRidgewillhavetodemonstratewhethertherearegroundstoinitiatetheprocedurefordesignationthoseareasrespectivelyasaHabitatsDirectiveareaorBirdsDirectivearea.

TheCabinetregardstheareasCentralOysterGroundsandFrisianFrontassearchareasforimplementingspatialplanningmeasurestoprotecttheseabedecosystemwithinthecompassoftheMSFD.43




RestoringnaturalhardsubstrateorcreatingartificialhardsubstratemayenabledegradedecosystemstorecoverandthereturnoflostbiodiversityintheNorthSea,andbringaboutabetterbreedinggroundfunctionforallkindsofmarineorganism.Researchintobuildingwithnaturehasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

SpeciesprotectionInadditiontothegeneralenvironmentalpolicy(suchaspolicyintermsofwaterquality),thepolicyfortheNorthSea’sprotectedspeciesisprimarilybeingfulfilledwithintheframeworkofNatura2000andbyenforcingtheFloraandFaunaAct.Thelatterprohibitsactivitieswithpossibleeffects(killing,catching,disturbing)onprotectednativespeciesofplantsandanimals(includingcertainmarinemammals,speciesofbirdsandnon-commercialspeciesoffish)oractivitiesthatdamage,destroyordisturbbreedinggrounds,restingsitesorsitesinhabitedbythesespecies.Fortheseactivities,exemptioncanbeobtainedwithaduty of careforthoseengagedininitiativesatsea.

TheCabinetadoptedaspecificharbourporpoiseprotec-tionplaninDecember2011.46.Theaimoftheplanistocontributetothefavourableconservationobjectivesfortheporpoise.TheimplementationofthisplanseestheNetherlandsfulfillingvariousinternationalobligationsundertheHabitatsDirective,CommonFisheriesPolicyRegulation812/2004andtheAgreementfortheConservationofSmallCetaceansintheBalticandNorthSea(ASCOBANS).Researchisbeingcarriedoutintotheconsequencesofby-catchandunderwaternoiseontheporpoisepopulation.Thishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).Basedonthis,theneedforadditionalmeasureswillbelookedinto.Concreteactionsinclude:settingupanationalscientificcommissiontosuperviseimplementationoftheprioritisedknowledgeagenda;monitoring(orintensifyingmonitoring)thepopulation,ascertainingthesizeandgrowthordeclinedata;carryingoutascientificby-catchobservationprogramme;researchintothecontrolleduseofpingers;amendingtherelevantEuropeanfishingregulations,makingthemapplicabletotheDutchsituation.


ForthepurposesoftheNatura2000areaVoordelta,themanagementplancameintoeffectin2008.Thismanagementplanformulatesmeasuresforfulfilmentoftheconservationobjectivesandregulateswhatactivitiescanorcannotbeengagedin,orcanbeengagedinundercertainconditions.TheseabedprotectionmeasuresinthisareahavebeenlinkedtothecompensationtaskfortheconstructionofextensionoftheportofRotterdam(Maasvlakte2).In2014themanagementplanhasbeenevaluatedandthenewplanwasmadeavailableforpublicconsultation.

VlaktevandeRaan,infrontoftheWesternScheldeestuary,wasdesignatedasaNatura2000areainMarch2011,subsequentlybeingchangedin2012(porpoiseconservationobjective).Inthisregard,itisparticularlyaboutprotectingpermanentlysubmergedsandbanks,marinemammals(porpoises,greysealandcommonseal)andmigratoryfish(twaiteshad,riverlampreyandsealamprey).In2015themanagementplanwillbemadeavailableforpublicconsultation.

NorthSeaCoastalZone,aBirdsandHabitatsDirectivesarea,receivedthedesignationin2009,withthedecisionbeingsubsequentlyrevisedin2011(changetoboundariesandconservationobjectivehabitattype‘permanentlysubmergedsandbanks’)and2012(changetoconservationobjectivegreysealandporpoise).In2015themanagementplanwillbemadeavailableforpublicconsultation.

InVlaktevandeRaanandNorthSeaCoastalZonethemeasuresstemfromtheFishinginProtectedAreasagreement(VIBEG)signedbythefisheriessector,natureconservationorganisationsandCentralGovernment.ThisagreementisfleshedoutinlegaltermsinanamendmenttotheFishingImplementationRegulations(RaanFlats)andanAccessRestrictionDecree(NorthSeaCoastalZone).AnimportantagreementintheFishinginProtectedAreasagreementisthatfishingwithticklerchainsinbothareaswillceasefrom1January2016.

ThevisionNorthSea2050SpatialAgenda44andtheNaturalCapitalAgenda(UitvoeringsagendaNatuurlijkKapitaal)45identifyopportunitiestobuildwithnature.




Figure 3.1 Current space utilisation North Sea



windfarm in operation / under construction


current cables and pipelines

points at which cables and pipelines come onshore

oil and gas platforms

former ammunition dump area

permit issued for sand extraction (and replenishment)

unloading-quay allocation

oil and gas �elds

0 100 km

0 50 NMN

freshwater



surface:

dunes


ImplementationoftheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirectiveTheCabinethasdevisedabroadprogrammeofmeasuresgearedtoachieveandmaintainagoodenvironmentalstatusintheNorthSea.In2012intheMarineStrategyPart1,theCabinetdescribedthegoodenvironmentalstatusinthefollowingterms:“TheNorthSeaisclean,healthyandproductive,theecosystemisfunctioningoptimallyandisresilient,anduseoftheNorthSeaissustainable”.Consequently,theNorthSeaoffersprospectsforbothecologyandsustainableusethrough(economic)designa-teduses.Inaddition,themarinestrategyconstitutesanintegratingframeworkforexistingandnewpolicywithinavarietyofpolicyareas,whichcontributestoachieveormaintainthegoodenvironmentalstatus.Theemphasisisoncooperationwithneighbouringcountries,societyandthebusinesscommunity.Themarinestrategyfleshesouttheimportantstartingpointsforthemarineecosystem,focusingonrenderingusesustainable,anarea-orientedapproachtothemostimportantsources,speciespolicyandcreationofopportunitiesforactiveecologicalrecovery.Inthisrespect,adaptivemanagementbasedonmonitoringplaysasignificantrole.

Inthemarinestrategy,theCabinethasoptedforapragmaticapproachtoachieveand/ormaintainthegoodenvironmentalstatus.Theemphasisison“doingwhatisnecessary”torestorethemarineecosystemand“makingthemostofopportunities”toensurethatsustainableeconomicgrowthandahealthyecosystemgohandinhand.TheCabinetwishestoencourageleadersinbusinessandsocietytoengageinsustainabledevelopment,suchasinthecaseofthe“greendeals”forreducinglitter.ThisemphasisfitsinwiththeambitionoftheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaandthetopicsincludedinit.ThisapproachalsocontributestotheEuropeansustainable“BlueGrowth”policyforEurope’sseas.

Usingexistingandnewpolicy,itwillbepossibletoachievethegoodenvironmentalstatusinmanyrespects,suchasreducingpollutionandeutrophication,protectingbiodiversityandseabedecosystems,developinghealthyfishstocks,excludinginvasiveexoticspecies,reducinglitter,andmitigatingandcompensatingforhydrographicinterventions.Thisunderlinestheimportanceofthepolicybeingimplementedintermsoftheseelements.

DuetothedynamicnatureoftheNorthSea,themanifoldelementsthatcollectivelydetermineitsenvironmentalstatusandthediversityofactivitiesaffectingthisstatus,itis,despiteagreatdealofeffort,impossibletosayin

whatconditiontheDutchpartoftheNorthSeawillbeby2020.Thisisalsoduetothefactthatitisimpossibletopredicttheextenttowhichmeasureswillresultintherecoveryoftheadverselyaffectedecosystemandhowswiftlyitwilldoso.AnotherfactorthatmustbetakenintoconsiderationisthelageffectofanumberofsubstancesthathaveaccumulatedintheNorthSeaasaresultofpastactivities.Moreover,thereisagreatdealofuncertaintyaboutsuchthingsasmicroplasticsandunderwaternoise,whichwillrequiremoredetailedresearch.

TheNetherlandswillnotbeabletosolvealloftheproblemsinitspartoftheNorthSeabyitself.Internationaleffortsarerequired.TheMSFDobligesmemberstatestoadoptaregionalapproach.Consequently,theimportanceofcooperationinOSPARwillincrease.TheNetherlandswillsupportinitiativesforinternationalcooperationandactivelyparticipateinthesewithinOSPAR,EUandotherrelevantinternationalframeworks.

TheMSFDMonitoringProgramme(MarineStrategyPart2)containsacomprehensivepackageofmonitoringactivitiesfocusedontheconditionoftheNorthSeaenvironmentandontheefficacyofmeasures.Abaselinemeasurementwillbecarriedoutin2015,withannualupdatesthereafter.Themonitoringdataamassedwillbeusedtocarryoutevaluationsofthemarinestrategyandthedevelopmenttowardsagoodenvironmentalstatus.Thefirstevaluationisexpectedfor2018,whentheinitialassessmentofthemarineenvironmentwillbeupdated.Inpart,thisassessmentwillbedrawnupinconjunctionwiththeotherNorthSeacountriesbasedoncommonindicatorsdevelopedinconnectionwithOSPAR.

Combinedwithamonitoringprogramme,thisapproachofdirectingeffortstowardsreducingthemostsignificantsourcesofadverseeffectsontheNorthSeaenvironmentpresentsthepossibilityoftimelyinterventioniftheenvironmentalstatusweretodeveloptooslowlyorinthewrongdirection(adaptivemanagementorthe‘handonthetap’principle).ThesecondMSFDcycle,from2018onwards,presentsaframeworkforexaminingthisingreaterdetail.

ThesecondimplementationcycleoftheMSFDwillcommenceduringtheplanningperiodfortheNationalWaterPlan(NWP)2016-2021.In2018,MarineStrategypart1willbereviewed,includingaprogressreportontheprogrammeofmeasures.MarineStrategypart2willbereviewedin2020.


TheNorthSeapresentsopportunitiesforlarge-scalegenerationofwindenergy,butalsoforsuchthingsasextractionofaquaticbiomassandthegenerationoftidalandwaveenergy.Inthelongerterm,opportunitiesareseenforfurthergrowthofenergygenerationintheNorthSeaandaninternationalapproachentailingenergysourcesintheNorthSeabeingconnectedtoaNorthSeagrid.Whatfurthergrowthisrequiredintermsofrenewableenergyafter2023willdependonmanyfactors,suchas:• theextenttowhichrenewableenergyiscompetitive

withenergyderivedfromfossilfuels;• thedevelopmentofrenewableenergy:wind,biomass,

solar,geothermal,tidalandwave;• thedevelopmentofCO2storage;• theeffectsoftheETS(EmissionsTradingScheme);• theEU’srenewableenergypolicyfortheperiodafter

2020.48

Policy

Generatingrenewableenergy(fromthewindorother-wise)isanactivityofnationalinterest.

WindenergyatseaWithintheNationalWaterPlan2009-2015theCabinethaschosentotakechargeofplanningthedevelopmentofwindenergyatsea.Areashavebeendesignatedwheretheconstructionofwindfarmswillbeallowed.OutsideofdesignatedareastheCentralGovernmentdoesnotgrantpermissionforwindfarms.WithindesignatedwindenergyareastheCentralGovernmentonlygrantspermissionforwindfarmstobebuiltwithintheboundsoftheregulationsbeingdevelopedforwindfarms.

48 European Parliament, Renewable Energy, information page (website). In response to the publication of a green paper in March 2013 entitled ‘A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies’ (COM(2013)169), the European Commission proposed in its communication of 22 January 2014 entitled ‘A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030’ (COM(2014)015) to not extend the national binding targets for renewable energy after 2020. Only at EU level will a mandatory target of 27% be set for the share of energy consumption derived from renewable energy. The Commission anticipates that national binding greenhouse gas emission targets will foster growth in the energy sector. The change of course has resulted in discussions with the Council and Parliament.

3.3 Renewable energy

Currentuseanddevelopments

Atpresent,therearetwooperationalwindfarmsintheDutchpartoftheNorthSea:theOffshoreWindparkEgmondaanZee(OWEZ),located6nauticalmiles(NM)offthecoastofEgmondaanZeewithacapacityof108MW,andthePrinsesAmaliawindfarm,situated12NMoffthecoastofIJmuidenwithacapacityof120MW.Inadditiontothese,twofurtherwindfarmsareunderconstruction,namelyLuchterduinenintheCoastofHollandarea(12NMfromtheshore)withacapacityof129MWandtheGeminiOffshoreWindparkintheareaNorthoftheWaddenIslands(34NMfromtheshore)withacapacityof600MW.

Visionandtasking

Energyisaprerequisiteforafunctionalsociety.Inordertobeabletomeetenergyneedsinthelongtermaswell,theproductionofrenewableenergywillhavetobeincreased.WithintheEuropeancontext,theNetherlandshasacceptedatargetof14%ofenergyconsumptionfromrenewablesourcesby2020.

ThetargetforwindenergygeneratedatseahasbeenagreedintheEnergyAgreementforrenewableenergy(September2013)47.4450megawatts(MW)ofwindenergymustbebeinggeneratedatseaby2023.Thisis3450MWextraoverandabovetheexistingwindfarmsandwindfarmsunderconstruction.Consequently,windenergygeneratedatseawillbegoingalongwaytowardsachievingtheCabinet’stargetof16%renewableenergyby2023.Significantpolicyeffortsandsubstantialinvestmentsarerequiredtoachieveallthis.

47 Dutch House of Representatives, 2012-2013 session, 30 196, no. 202 (appendix).


Thereareinitiativesinplaceforbothwave/tidalenergyand(deep)geothermalenergy,whichentailknowledgeofthesetechnologiesbeingdevelopedandpilotprojectsbeingcarriedout.Toidentifythepotentialoftheseandothertechnologies,researchisbeingcommissionedbythegovernmentduringtheplanningperiodofthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Toclarifytheeffectsofcombinedenergyfarms,researchwillbecarriedout.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

ThedevelopmentofenergyintheNorthSeaiscloselyrelatedtodevelopmentsinthefieldofoilandgasextraction,energystorageandtransportandCO2storage(seesections3.5,3.6and3.7).Inordertoorganisethetransitiontorenewableenergywhilecapitalisingonthepotentialofnewtechnologies,aNorthSeaEnergyMasterPlan2030-2050willbedeveloped.ThisMasterPlanhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

IntheNationalWaterPlan2009-2015–andthepartialrevisionthereof–theareasofBorssele,IJmuidenVer,CoastofHollandandNorthoftheWaddenIslandsweredesignated.ThisdesignationisbeingcontinuedintheNationalWaterPlan2016-2021.Theareasareoutsideofthe12-milezone.Withinthedesignatedareastherearestillissuesregardingharmonisationwithotherdesignatedusesandthemarineecosystem.Thesehavethepotentialtoreduceavailablespaceforwindenergygenerationatsea(seesection4.3).

AttheendofSeptember2014theCabinetsetoutinalettertotheDutchSenateandDutchHouseofRepresentatives49howitwouldliketofulfilthetargetof3450MWadditionalinstalledoffshorewindcapacityundertheEnergyAgreement.OneoftheconclusionsdrawnbytheCabinetisthatcost-effectivefulfilmentofthistargetwillrequireastripbetween10and12nauticalmilesoffthecoastofNoord-HollandandZuid-Holland.Thisstripwillbecontiguouswiththedesignatedareas,buthasnotyetbeendesignated.Forthepurposesofdesignating,aprocesstoamendtheNationalWaterPlan2016-2021willensue(seesection4.3).

OtherformsofrenewableenergyTheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaidentifiesopportunitiesforthelongertermtointegratealternativeformsofrenewableenergyintowindfarms.Thiswillcreatepotentialfortheenergyoutputtobeincreased,achievemultifunctionaluseofspaceandgiverisetoopportunitiesforenergycostreduction.Inordertosafeguardthedevelopmentofrenewableenergyinthelongerterm,avarietyofactionsarealreadybeingundertaken.



3.4 Extraction of surface minerals


SandandshellsarethesurfacemineralsbeingextractedfromtheNorthSea.

SandisextractedfromtheNorthSeainshallowwaters(<2metres)anddeepwaters(>2metres)intheformofreplenishmentsand,fillsand,concreteandmasonrysand.Replenishmentsandisusedforcoastalreinforcement,withsandreplenishmentforthepurposesofcoastalsafety.Fillsandandconcreteandmasonrysandareusedforconstructionandinfrastructure.Inaddition,fillsandisusedtocombatfloodrisks(forexample,dykeimprove-mentorelevatingindustrialestateslyingoutsidedykes).

AmongthecountriesborderingtheNorthSea,theNetherlandsextractsthemostsandfromthesea.Onregularinexcessof25millionm3perannumisextracted50,halfofwhichisreplenishmentsandandhalfofwhichisfillsand.Thisequatestoanareaofroughly60to90km2everyfiveyears.Furthermore,occasionallarge-scalesandextractioniscarriedoutforprojectssuchastheWeakLinks(ZwakkeSchakels)andtheconstructionofMaasvlakte2.TheconstructionofthefirstphaseofMaasvlakte2hasresultedinextremelylarge-scalesandextractionfromthesea(roughly213millionm3).

Atpresent,allthereplenishmentsandandroughlyonethirdofthefillsandforconstructionandinfrastructureisbeingextractedfromtheNorthSea.Intermsofthefillsand,thegreatestproportionisusedinthewesternpartoftheNetherlands,giventhatitishere(intheurbanareas)thatthereispracticallynoroomforsandextractionandthesandisprimarilytobefoundunderlayersofclayandpeat.

Sandhasregularlybeenextractedinrecentyearsatadepthofmorethantwometres,forsuchthingsastheSandMotorandtheconstructionofMaasvlakte2(inthiscaseextractioneffortswentasdeepas20m).Greaterdepthispreferredforextractionaslongastheriskofdelayedrecolonisationofseabedcreaturesandoxygen

50 National Committee on the Coordination of Extraction Policy.

depletioniskepttoaminimumandthegradientofthepitremainslimited.Inthecaseofexcavationpenetratingdowntotwometres,therecoveryperiodforlifeontheseabedisfourtosixyears.Inthecaseofexcavationpenetratingdowntosixtoeightmetres,therecoverytimeisprobablysimilargiventhatsuch‘excavations’alsooccurontheseabedasanaturalphenomenon.Thisisstillsubjectofmoredetailedstudy.

PotentialextractionareasforconcreteandmasonrysandarelocatedinazonetothewestoftheZuid-HollandislandsandZeeland.Becausethissandislocatedsomemetresbelowtheseabed,largequantitiesofsandhavetoberemovedfromthecoverlayer,whichcanserveasreplenishmentorfillsand.AproportionoftheconcreteandmasonrysandisalreadytobefoundatthesurfaceasaresultoftheextractionworkforMaasvlakte2.

Thesea-levelriseanticipatedduetoclimatechangewillhaveconsequencesfortherequiredquantitiesofreplenishmentsandandfillsand.TheCabinetisinvestigatinghowmuchsandwillbeneededtomaintainequilibriumbetweenthesandysystemandthesea-levelrise.Thisstudywillalsoclarifywhenandwherethesandmustbedeposited51.Ifeffortsaremadetowidendykesandterps(artificialdwellingmounds)onland,thesewillbeaccompaniedbyasharpincreaseindemandforfillsand.InthecaseofareasoffthecoastsofKatwijk,Egmond,TexelandVlieland/Terschelling,thecapacitytoguaranteesufficientsandatreasonablecostsforthenext50yearsisalreadyunderpressure.Thereisnoshortageofsandintheotherareas,buteffortsshouldbemadetopreventdepletionofthemostcost-effectiveproportionofthesandreserves.

Itisanticipatedthattherequisitequantityofreplenish-mentsandwillremainbroadlythesameforthecomingperiod(to2021):12millionm3perannum.Partlyduetotheeconomiccrisis,theneedforfillsandremainsaround13millionm3perannum.ForthesecondphaseofMaasvlakte2,roughly80millionm3ofsandwillberequired52.IfthesandextractionactivitiesintheWestern

51 Delta Programme 2015. Working on the Delta. Dutch House of Representatives, 2014-2015 session, 34 000 J, no. 4.

52 The 1st phase is now complete, and the 2nd phase depends on economic development until 2033.


Policy

Sandextractionforthepurposesofcoastaldefencesandfillingisanactivityofnationalinterest.Inordertocopewiththechallengesintheshortandlongterm,thepolicyfocusesonsafeguardingadequatesandreservesatseaforreplenishmentandfillingpurposesatacceptable,reasonablecosts.

Asandextractionstrategywithincreasedspatialmanage-mentisrequiredinordertoachievethepolicytarget.AstartwasmadeonthesandextractionstrategyintheIntegratedManagementPlanfortheNorthSea.Thishasnowbeenfurtherexpandedonthebasisoftheexperiencesinthepreviousplanningperiodandaninventorydetailingthelocationofsuitablequantitiesofsandinthereservearea.Theconsequencesofotherdesignatedusestransectingthisarea(suchascablesandpipelines)fortheavailablesandreservescannowbemuchbettercharted.Thesandextractionstrategyisdescribedinsection4.4.

Apartfromsand,smallerquantitiesofshellsareextracted.PolicydictatesthatshellscanbeextractedseawardoftheNAP–5misobathinquantitiesthatarecommensuratewithnaturalaccretion.

Scheldtareceased,thesemaybereplacedbysandextractionintheNorthSea.Thisinvolves0.5to1millionm3ofsandperannum.

Shellscanbefoundinever-growinglayersontheseabed.Theyareextractedbyspecialistfirmsandusedforvariouspurposes,suchasdrainagesystems,insulationandpathsurfacing.

Visionandtasking

Theavailabilityofsufficientquantitiesofaffordablesandforcoastalsafety,constructionactivitiesandinfrastructuremustbesafeguarded,forthelongtermaswell.Inthelightofclimatechange,anewstrategyforsandextractionisrequired,withoptionsforspatialmanagement.

Theextractionmustbedoneinasociallyacceptableway.Thestartingpointofpolicyonrawmaterialsfortheconstructionindustryiseconomicalandhigh-qualityuse.Thisentailsnotpermittingtheuseofhigh-gradecoarsesandandgravelforfillingpurposes.

RelativetotheoverallscaleoftheDutchpartoftheNorthSea,thespatialrequirementforsandextractionisnotparticularlysizeable,butcost-effectivesandextractiondoesmeanthatdemandforspacepredominantlyaffectsthebusysouthernpartoftheNorthSea.Thisiswherethehighestvolumeofshipping,oilandgasextraction,recreationandfishingtakesplace.Thespatialpressureinthisareaincreasesduetotheconstructionofwindfarmsatseaandthelayingofelectriccablesthroughtheareaswiththemostcost-effectivesandreservesandwheresandextractionhasthehighestpriority.


Visionandtasking

Inthefuture,too,asmuchoilandgasaspossiblewillbeextractedfromtheavailablefieldsatsea.

Fossilfuels,however,arebecomingdepleted.Sometimebetween2040and2100thelastgasandoilfieldsonlandandatsea(boththeGroningengasfieldandtheso-called‘smallfields’)willalsobeexhausted.Furthermore,windenergygenerationisontherise,andotherformsofrenewableenergyarebecomingavailable.Notsurprisingly,then,intermsofspatialuseconsiderations,thereisaneedforanenergyprogrammeforthelongerterm.Intheperiodafter2020,thelargegasfieldsbecomingvacantcouldbemadeavailableforCO2storage(seesection3.6).

Policy

Oilandgasextraction,includingtherequisitepipelines,areregardedasactivitiesofnationalinterest(seesection3.7).Thepolicyisgearedtowardsmakingthemostofthepotentialoftheoilandgasreservesavailable,evenatsea.OilandgasreservescanbesituatedundertheentireEEZandterritorialwaters.UseisregulatedprimarilybymeansofpermitissuancewithintheframeworkoftheMiningAct(Mijnbouwwet).Platformsnolongerinusemustberemoved.

Shippingisnotpermittedaroundexistingoilandgasplatforms,withaminimumsafetyzoneof500metres(MiningAct).Whereplatformswithahelipadareconcerned,thestartingpointisanobstacle-freezoneoffivenauticalmilestoguaranteeaccesstotheseplatforms.Inspecificsituationscustomisationmayprovepossible,asaresultofwhichwindturbinescouldalsobepermittedpartlyinthisarea(seethedesignprocessinsection4.3).Whencontemplatingsitesfornewwindfarms,considerationmustbegivennotonlytoexistingplat-formsbutalsototheprospects(potentiallyextractableoilorgasreserves)andthepossiblenecessityofimprovingaccessbymeansofaproductionplatformwithahelipad.


Around30%ofthegasextractedintheNetherlandsisderivedfrommarinesources.Foroil,thisexceeds85%.Thereare161productionunitsatsea,93%ofwhichareforgasextractionand7%foroilextraction.Forthepurposesofconveyingoilandgas,theseproductionunitsareconnectedtoanetworkofpipelineswhichruntoacoupleoflandingpointsontheDutchcoast.

IntheEnergyReport201153theCabinetassumesaconsiderableriseinglobaldemandforenergyoverthenextfewdecades.Fossilfuelscontinuetobeanimportantenergysource.ItisanticipatedthataroundtwotofournewextractionsiteswillbeputintodevelopmentontheNorthSeaeachyearforthenextdecade.Therateatwhichexistingextractionsarephasedoutwilldependonfactorssuchasoilandgaspricesandthedevelopmentandapplicationofnewmethodsandtechnologiesfordetectionandextraction.Agradualdeclineinextractionisexpectedinthefuture.54Itisanticipatedthatsmallfieldswillproducegasintothe2040s,albeittoalesserextent(25%ofcurrentproductionlevel).

Inrecentdecades,gasandoilfieldoperatorshaveimplementedmeasurestoreduceadverseeffectsontheenvironment.Atthepresent,dischargesthataretheproductofoilandgasprojectshaveminimaladverseeffectsonthenaturalvaluesoftheNorthSea.Itispossiblethatsomenegativeeffectscouldbecausedbyseismicresearch(underwaternoise)andbyplatformlighting(disorientationofmigratorybirds).Withregardtothelatter,effectivemitigatingmeasuresarebeingsoughtbasedontheapplicableplatformlightingsafetyrequire-ments(suchasthepotentialuseofgreenlight).

53 Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation, Energy Report 2011. Dutch House of Representatives, 2010-2011 session, 31 510, no. 45.

54 See also Ministry of Economic Affairs, Minerals and Geothermal Energy in the Netherlands, annual report 2013.

3.5 Oil and gas extraction


InconnectionwiththeallocatedEUsubsidy,theEuropeanCommissionhasgiventheROADprojectuntiltheendof2014tomakeadefinitiveinvestmentdecision.

Visionandtasking

Inthelongrun,theambitionistoarriveatasituationinwhichallenergyisproducedsustainably.Thecapture,useandstorageofCO2,isatemporarysolutionduringthetransitiontothissituation.TheCentralGovernmentiscurrentlyworkingonalong-termvisionwithregardtoCarbonCaptureandStorage.

Policy

CO2storageasatemporarysolutiononthepathtoafullyrenewableenergysupplyisanactivityofnationalinterest.HavingsufficientspaceforCO2storageinvacantgasandoilfieldsorinaquifersandfortheaccompanyingpipelinesisaprerequisite.ThiscouldpotentiallybedonethroughouttheEEZandterritorialwaters.

3.6 CO2 storage


TheCabinet’sClimateAgenda55describesthepolicyoncombatingclimatechange,whichisaimedatan80-95%reductioninCO2by2050.CapturingCO2atthesourceandtransportingittostoragelocationsdeepunderground,atechniqueaptlycalledCarbonCaptureandStorage(CCS),canachievethis.

TheNetherlands’CO2storagecapacityingasfields(currentandformer)isestimatedtobe2700to3200megatonnes(Mt)(notcountingtheGroningengasfield).Inthisregard,some1500to2000Mtareunderlandandaround1200Mtundertheseabed.ThestoragecapacityoftheGroningengasfieldisestimatedtobearound9000Mt,butwillprobablynotbecomeavailableuntilafter2050.Furthermore,thereisstilluncertaintyastowhatproportionofthiscapacitywillbeavailableforCO2storage.Thepotentialforaquifersismuchlessclear,andatpresentitisestimatedat700to1500Mtbothonlandandatsea.Furtherresearchmayresultinadifferentestimateofthispotential.

InordertofacilitateCO2captureandstorage,partofthepipelineinfrastructurewillhavetoberenewed.Existingoilandgaspipelinescanonlybeusedoncethefieldsinquestionhavebeencompletelyexhausted.Atpresent,theMiningActmandatesthedecommissioningofdepletedfields(removalofplatformsnotinuse).InaCCSvisionunderdevelopment,theCentralGovernmentisassessingwhetherpolicychangeswouldbedesirableinthisrespect.

Forthe2009-2015periodanobjectivehadbeensettocarryoutlarge-scaledemonstrationprojectsforCO2capture,transportandstorageonDutchterritory,bothonshoreandoffshore.TheROADpilotproject(RotterdamStorageandCaptureDemonstrationProject)waslaunchedin2009.ThepreparatorystudiesarecompleteandthepermitforstoragewasissuedinJuly2013.TheprojecthasexperienceddelaysduetothebusinesscasenolongerbeingsoundasaresultofthelowCO2pricewithintheEuropeanEmissionTradingScheme(ETS).

55 Dutch House of Representatives, 2013-2014 session, 32 813, no. 70 (appendix). Climate Agenda.



Thefirstcablesontheseabedweretransatlantictele-communicationscablesbetweenEuropeandNorthAmerica.Thesewerelaidfromthe19thcenturyonwards.Sincethattimethenumberoftelecommunicationscableshasgrownsteadily,thoughithasnowstabilised.Theoutdatedcoppercableshavebeenabandonedandpartlyremoved.Thecurrent,activecablesarefibreglasscables.Thecapacityofthesecablesisstillsufficientfortheplanningperiod,thoughthereareinitiativesinplaceforthelayingofmorecables.

Atpresent,theNetherlandshastwointernationalmarineelectricityconnections(interconnectors),namelythecablebetweentheNetherlandsandNorway(NorNedkabel)andthecablebetweentheNetherlandsandGreatBritain(BritNedkabel).WiththeopeningupoftheEuropeanelectricitymarket,demandforinterconnectorsisontherise,asisdemandforconnectingoffshore(wind)energyfarmswithoneanotherbymeansofaNorthSeagrid.Atpresent,around3300kmofcabling(forcommunicationandelectricity)isinuse.

BuildingoffshorewindfarmscreatesanadditionalneedforelectricitycablesbetweenthewindfarmsandtheDutchcoast.TheCabinethascommissionedTenneTtoprepareinterconnectors/‘plugsatsea’forthepurposesoflarge-scaleoffshorewindturbinesites.PossibleconnectionpointsareBorssele,Maasvlakte,Wateringen,Vijfhuizen(from2018),BeverwijkandEemshaven.Formoredetailsseesection4.3.4.

Sincetheintroductionofoilandgasextraction,anextensivenetworkofpipelineshasdevelopedintheNorthSea.Gaspipelines(around4500km)comeashoreatVelsen,Maasvlakte,CallantsoogandUithuizen.OilpipelinescomeashoreatHookofHollandandIJmuiden.Asaresultofthegovernment’ssmallfieldpolicy,thepipelineinfrastructureisbeingfurtherextended.InviewoftheprospectsforoilandgasextractionintheNorthSea,thenumberofpipelinesmaybeexpectedtostabiliseafter2020.IfCO2istobestoredatsea,extrapipelineswillbeinstalledforthispurpose.

UndertheWaterpermit,thereisaremovalobligationfordecommissionedcablesandpipelines.Aremovalobligationfortelecommunicationscableswithin

territorialwatersappliesunderSection5.2.8oftheTelecommunicationsAct(Telecommunicatiewet).TheMiningActstipulatesthattheMinisterisentitledtoissueanorderforremoval.Removalisdesirableasoldcablesandpipelinescanimpedeotherusesoftheseabed,suchassandextractionorinstallationofwindturbines.

Basedontheassessmentofthesocialcostsandbenefits,theenvironmentaleffectsandsafetyaspectsofleavingcablesorpipelinesinplaceversusremovingthem,pipelinesareleftinplace,whereasmorerecentlydecommissionedtelecommunicationscablesareusuallyremovedinpractice.Atpresent,therearearound268kmofabandonedpipelinesandinexcessof3000kmofabandonedcablesontheNorthSeabed.

Decommissionedpipelinesthatarenotremovedhavetobecleanedbytheownerandannuallyinspected(monitoringobligation).

Visionandtasking

Theexistinginfrastructurewillefficientlymeetexpecteddemandforcommunicationconnectionsandtransportofgas,oilandelectricity.Inconjunctionwiththesurroundingcountries,furtherworkwillbedoneoncreatinganinternationalnetwork(grid)ofsustainable(wind)energyintheNorthSeaforthelongterm.

Inlightofburgeoningdemandfor(electricity)cables,thetaskistocontinuemakingefficientuseofspacebymeansofbundling(partlyinresponsetoincreasingdemandforsandextraction)andamoredetailedremovalobligation.

Policy

Spacefor(wind)energy,oilandgasextractionandCO2storage,includingrequisitecablesandpipelines,isofnationalinterest.

TopromoteefficientuseofspaceintheNorthSea,electricitycables,telecommunicationscablesandpipelineswillbebundledtothefullestextentpossible.Asfaraspossible,decommissionedcablesandpipelineswillberemoved,unlessthebenefitstosocietyoutweighthecoststosociety.‘Plugsatsea’willhavetoensurethat

3.7 Cables and pipelines


SafetyandmaintenancezoneThereisasafetyandmaintenancezoneof500metresaroundcablesandpipelinesintheNorthSea,andsandmaynotbeextractedwithinthiszone.Researchhasshownthatinprinciple,whenbuildingwindfarms,a500-metrezoneshouldbeadheredtoforpipelinesandelectricitycablesanda750-metrezonefortelecommunicationscables.Inconsultationwiththeownersofcablesandpipelines,thesafetyandmaintenancezonecanbereducedandtheincreasedmaintenancecostsandriskscanbesharedthroughprivatelawagreementsbetweencable/pipelineownersandinitiatorsofnewprojects.RemovalobligationInprinciple,oldcablesthatarenolongerinusemustberemoved.Aremovalobligationalsoholdsfornewpipelinesforwhichpermitshavebeengranted(undertheMiningAct).Inbothcases,exemptionfromthisobliga-tioncanbegrantedwherethebenefitstosocietyoutweighthecoststosociety.Thechecklistforabandonedcablesorpipelinesappliestoasessthis.Thishasbeenextendedtoincludethepossiblefinancialconsequencesforotherfunctions(seeassessment2oftheintegratedassessmentframeworkinsection5).ThischecklistwillalsobeusedforpipelinesforwhichpermitshavealreadybeenissuedundertheMiningAct.

Aswiththewindfarmsthemselves,cablesfortrans-portingelectricityfromwindfarmsarealsosubjecttothisremovalobligation,i.e.withoutapplyingtheforementionedchecklist.Thisremovalobligationalsoappliestonewcontrolandtelecommunicationscables.

Inthecaseofpipelinesthatcanbeleftinplace,theoptionsofwhetherthepipelinescanbeleftinplacewithoutfurthermonitoring,whetherthemonitoringobligationcanbetakenoverbythegovernmentorthepipelineswillstillhavetoberemovedwillbeexplored.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Inconjunctionwiththesurroundingcountries,furtherresearchwillbecarriedoutintoaninternationalnetworkofrenewable(wind)energyintheNorthSea,connectedbymeansofhigh-voltagecables.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

thegrowingquantityofenergygeneratedbywindfarmsisefficientlyconnectedtothegridonland.

TheThirdNationalStructurePlanforElectricitySupply,KeyPlanningDecisionPartI(SEVIII,2008)constitutesthespatialplanningassessmentframeworkforplanningelectricityworksonland.Itreservesspaceforlarge-scaleproductionandtransportofelectricity.ThegridforwindenergyprojectsatseaandtheinterconnectorsshouldconnectwiththeroutesestablishedonlandintheSEV.ThePipelineStructurePlan(StructuurschemaBuisleidingen)establishesfutureroutesforpipelinesonland,whichthosecominginfromtheseawillconnectto.

BundlingToensureefficientuseofspace,effortsarebeingmadetobundlecablesandpipelinesinconsultationwiththeinitiator,todownsizesafetyandmaintenancezoneswhereverpossibleandtoremovedecommissionedcablesandpipelines.Thisisparticularlyimportantforsandextraction,wherecablesandpipelinespassthroughtherelativelyinexpensivesandreservesalongthecoast.

Duringtheplanningprocessforthelayingofnewcablesandpipelines,effortswillbemadeinconsultationwiththeinitiatortohaveroutesruninparallel.Inordertofacilitatepassingthroughthesandextractionzone,preferredroutesneedtobedetermined,basedontheavailabilityofextractablesand(i.e.routesthroughareaswhereextractablesandhasbeendepletedorwheresandextractionislessattractive)andpossiblelandingpointsforcablesandpipelines.Thesandextractionstrategy(section4.4)setsoutinmoredetailhowtodealwiththis.Theassessmentframeworkhasbeenelaboratedandsharpenedinordertoimplementthebundlingpolicy(seesection5).

Forinitiativesthattakeupaconsiderablearea,theCentralGovernmentcanprescribeaspatialreservationforfuturecablesandpipelines.TenneThasbeenaskedtodevelopaplantobundleoffshorewindfarmconnectionsbymeansofstandardisedplatformsinsteadofhavingaconnectionforeachwindfarm(seealsosection4.3).Existingcablesandpipelineswillnotbebundledduetothehighcostsassociatedwithmovingthem.


Maritime traffic measures in the Dutch part of the North Sea

IntheDutchpartoftheNorthSea,routingmeasuresandothermeasuresapply(suchasclearwaysandanchorage)forthepurposesofregulatingmaritimetraffic:

• The traffic separation scheme (TSS) and accompanying ‘precautionary areas’ and ‘inshore traffic zones’ have been established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) of the United Nations. The objective of these systems is to regulate traffic so as to prevent vessels colliding.

• Precautionary areas are areas where vessels must take extra care, as multiple traffic separation schemes converge here.

• Tankers in the Dutch part of the North Sea are obliged to follow the deep-water routes designated by the IMO. Furthermore, tankers are under an obligation to take the shortest way when approaching a port from a deep-water route and vice versa. The reason for setting mandatory routes for tankers is the status of the Wadden Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). In order to protect this PSSA, the deep-water route is located further out from the coast, ensuring that any oil discharged as a result of an accident can be combated before it reaches the protected area.

• Clearways are shipping zones between traffic separation schemes in which mining installations may not be built. Vessels are not obliged to use these areas. Recognising that these areas must remain free of obstacles, a clearway holds the status of ‘recognised sea lane essential for navigation’ as referred to in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The clearways have been established in the regulati-ons accompanying the Mining Act.

• Anchorages are ‘parking spaces’ for ships.

3.8 Shipping


TheNorthSeaisoneofthemostintensivelyusedseasintheworld.Inadditiontocommercialvessels,deep-seatowageandhydraulicengineeringprojects,theNorthSeaalsoaccommodatesfishingvesselsandrecreationalsailing.Vesselswithdifferentdegreesofmanoeuvrability,sizesandspeedscometogetherinasmallarea.56TrafficontheNorthSeawillgetbusierandmorediverseinthefuture.Maritimetrafficpolicywillchangeasaresultofincreasedintensityofcoastalshipping,includingcoastalshippingtraffictoandfromGreatBritain,andthemovementofvesselstoandfromoffshoreactivitiessuchasconstructionandmaintenanceofwindfarms.TheeconomicvalueofshippingfortheNetherlandsishigh.Inadditiontothedirectandindirecteconomicsignificanceofshippingitself,thisvaluealsoderivesfromthesignificanceofDutchports,ofwhichRotterdamisoneofthelargestintheworld(onthesubjectofports,seealsosection3.13ontheinteractionbetweenlandandsea).

ShippingroutesWithaviewtomaritimetrafficsafety,accessibilityofportsandincreasingspaceforoffshorewindenergy,thesystemofshippingroutesofftheDutchcoastwasadaptedinAugust2013.Thecurrentcapacityofmaritimetrafficsystemsissufficienttoaccommodateexpectedgrowthintermsofcargoflowsuntil2021.

56 Policy letter on maritime shipping: ‘Responsible navigation and a strong fleet’. Dutch House of Representatives, 2008-2009 session, 31 409, no. 2.


Policy

Shippingisanactivityofnationalinterest.Thepolicyforshippingisgearedtowardsenhancingcompetitiveness,improvingaccessibilityandsafeguardingsafe,environ-mentallyfriendlyshipping.Intermsofspatialplanning,thefocusisonguaranteeinggoodseaaccessandshippingroutes.Thesystemofroutingmeasures,clearwaysandanchoragesthatcanaccommodatevesselsinawaythatensuressafetyandfluencywillbemaintained.

Thechangesintermsofthemaritimetrafficsituation(asdescribedin3.8)andthepossibleconsequencesofthisfortheeconomy,safetyandtheenvironmentwillhavetobestudied.Inordertoexplorethelonger-termtasks,thepotentialconsequencesofincreaseduseoftheroutethroughtheArcticOceanwillalsobeexamined.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Mininginstallationsorotherindividualpermanentstructureswillnotbepermittedwithintheshippingroutesorina500-metrezonesurroundingtheseshippingroutes.Forthepurposesofestablishingasafedistancebetweenshippingroutesandoffshorewindfarms,adesigncriterionwasdevelopedin2013.Thisdesigncriterionisexplainedinsection4.3.

Withinaglobalcontext,theNetherlandsisstrivingtowardscommonfundamentalprinciplesforspatialplanningatsearegardingdistancesbetweenwindfarmsandshippingroutes.Consultationonthismatterhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

AstheNorthSea’slargestusergroup,maritimetrafficrequiresparticularattentionwhenitcomestoreducingwaterandairpollution.Toprotectthemarineecosystem,measuresandinitiativeswillbeimplementedtoreducepollutioncausedbyshipping(seesection4.2).

Toensuresafe,guaranteedaccesstothevariousports,theaccesschannelsareperiodicallydredged.TheMeusechannelwaswidenedduringthepreviousplanningperiod.ThePlanningProceduresDecreeforwideningtheEemschannelisinpreparation.Ifthequalityofdredgedmaterialissufficient,thenthismaterialcanbedistributedinthemarinesystem.Sixunloadingsiteshavebeenallocatedforthepurposesofdistributingcleandredgingsderivedfromportsandchannels.Asfaraspossible,so-called‘loweredunloadingfacilitiesareused,createdafterdeepeningcausedbysandextraction.Giventheeconomicbenefitsandtheenvironmentaldevelopmentsintheareathatdonothaveanyadverseeffects,anevaluationhasledtoaproposaltoexpandthecurrentsiteoffthecoastofHookofHollandonthenorth-easternside,allowingthecombinationofsandextractionanddredgedmaterialstoragetobecontinuedatthesamesiteuntil2030.Ifthedredgedmaterialisnotofsufficientquality,itshouldbestoredindepotsonlandtopreventthespreadingofcontamination.

Visionandtasking

ShippingontheNorthSeawillremainsafeinthefutureandbesustainable.

Thechallengeistomakethisvisionarealitywhilstfacedwithanincreasingvolumeanddiversityofshipping.


Visionandtasking

Militaryexercisezonesatseaarenecessarytoensurethearmedforcesremainwelltrainedandprepared.

TheongoingtaskistoreservesufficientspaceforthevariousmilitaryactivitiesandtestingofvariousmilitarysystemsinspiteoftheincreasinguseofspacebyotherdesignatedusesontheNorthSea.

Policy

Defenceisofnationalinterest.ConcretethismeansthatthereneedstobesufficientspaceintheNorthSeaformilitarytrainingpurposes.Withinexercisezones,thefundamentalprincipleisthatcollectiveuseoftheseareasispermittedinsofarasthisiscompatiblewiththemilitaryexercisesbeingengagedin.InitiallytheMinisterforDefencewilldecide.

Mostdefenceareasonandabovetheseasurfaceareunsafewhenbeingusedforshootingandflyingactivities.Whennotinuse,theseareascanbeusedforotheractivities.Duetotheriskofdamageandthepossiblerestrictionsitwouldimposeonmilitaryuse,thesitingofdrillingplatformsorwindturbinesisnotpermittedinmilitaryexercisezones.


AproportionoftheNorthSeaisusedforthepurposesofmilitaryexercises.Thispertainstovariousareasbeingusedasshootingranges,flyingzonesorexercisezonesforthepurposesoflayinganddetectingmines.Theintensityofusagevaries.Foreachareathepredominantactivityhasbeenascertained.Dependingonthearea,shootingmaybeengagedinbyshipsand/oraeroplanes.Furthermore,afewareashavebeenallocatedwhereshootingfromthelandoccurs.Inthisregard,itispartlyaboutexercisezonesbutalsoaboutareasfortestingmilitarysystems.Occasionallytheareascanoverlap.

Theanticipatedrequirementintermsofspaceforthesemilitaryareasisstable.Nosubstantialchangesareexpectedinthecomingperiod.

Allmilitaryareashavebeendesignatedassuch.Theprecisedelineationhasbeenprovidedforbytheminingregulationsandbytheaviationregulations.TheboundarieshavebeencommunicatedonaviationmapsaswellasintheNoticestoMarinersandthroughtheGeneralRules(SpatialPlanning)Decree.Theyhavealsobeenbroadlydesignatedontheframeworkvisionmap.

ShortlyaftertheSecondWorldWar,surplusstocksofammunitionweredepositedintheseaattwositesspeciallydesignatedforthis.Theseformerammunitiondumpsitesareindicatedonseachartsasareastobeavoidedandhavebeenbuoyedoff.TheammunitiondumpsitesarenotmanagedbytheMinistryofDefenceandnomilitaryactivitiesareengagedinthere.TNOhascarriedoutextensiveresearchintopossibleenvironmentaleffectsoftheammunitiondumpsites.Inthisregard,nonegativeeffectshavebeendemonstrated.

3.9 Defence



TheDutchmarinefisheriessectorencompassedsome600vesselsin2012,withinexcessof1900crewmembers.Intotal,morethan28000peoplewereworkinginthesupplyandprocessingindustry.In2012,thesectoryieldedaround€425million(0.1%ofGDP,notincludingtheprocessingindustry).Despiteforecastspredictingafallofbetween8%and50%,theeconomicvalueoffishingontheDutchcontinentalshelfisestimatedtohaveremainedroughlythesameduring2005-2015.Inadditiontotheeconomicvalue,thefishingindustryhassocioculturalsignificanceduetoitstraditionallinktotheidentityofcoastaltownsintheNetherlands.

ThespaceavailableforfishingintheNorthSeaisincreasinglycomingunderpressurefromsuchthingsasoffshorewindfarmsandNatura2000measures.Furthermore,thereisincreasingsocialpressureonthesectortomakeitspracticesmorenature-friendly/animal-friendly.Throughouttheworld,themarineecosystemisbecomingimpoverishedasaresultofsystematicoverfishingduetoariseintheneedforfood/proteincausedbyworldpopulationgrowth.

ThesectorhasaneconomicovercapacityandtheCommonFisheriesPolicyrestrictsfishingopportunities.Themethodoffishingcommonlyused(bottomtrawlingor‘dragging’)isenergy-intensive.SeveralchangestotheCommonFisheriesPolicywereimplementedin2013tobolsterprogressonthepathtowardsincreasingsustainabilityandcombatingwaste.Theexactsignificanceofclimatechangeforthefishingsectorisstillrelativelyunknown.Somespeciesoffishmaymigratenorth,therebybecominglessinterestingineconomicterms.New,economicallyinterestingspeciesmaycometotheregion.

TheaforementioneddevelopmentswillhaveconsequencesforthefishingsectorintheNetherlands.Itisanticipatedthatthefleetwillundergofurtherdownsizing.Atthesametime,opportunitieswillariseforthesectortopromoteitselfwithresponsiblefishingpracticesbyadoptingecolabelstoreassureconsumers(MarineStewardshipCouncil,MSC).

3.10 Fishing, aquaculture and mariculture

Aquaculture(cultivationoffish,crustaceansandshellfish)andmariculture(cultivationofmarineplantssuchasmacroalgaeandseaweeds)areontherise.IntheNetherlandsanumberofdevelopmentsareunderwayintermsoffoodsourcedfromthesea.ExamplesincludecultivatingseaweedintheNorthSeaandcultivatingmusselsintheVoordeltaareawiththeaidofmusselseedcaptureinstallations(MZIs).Moreover,thegovernmentislookingintotheextenttowhichcollectiveuseofwindfarmswillbeamongtheoptionsinthefuture.TheNorthSea2050SpatialAgenda57describesopportunitiesfor‘keepingfish’inwindfarms.Itwouldappearthatforthetimebeingtheoffshoreenergyareasareunsuitableforthepurposesofcultivatingalgaeandseaweeds.Overthenextfewyears,feasibilitystudies,experimentsandpilotprojectswillbecarriedouttolookatwhethertheaquacultureandmaricultureactivitiesspecifiedwillbetechnicallyandeconomicallyviableaswell.Thisresearchhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Visionandtasking

Thetransitiontosustainableformsoffishingandfishfarmingwillbecontinued.Thefishingsectoristakingtheinitiativeinthisregardandthegovernmentisadoptingamorefacilitative,stimulatoryrole.Fishingremainsasocioeconomicstapleforpartsofthecoastalregion.Havingsustainable(economic)developmentinequilibriumwiththemarineenvironmentiskey.Tothisend,itwillbenecessarytocontinuethedialogue.

ThedevelopmentofaquacultureandmariculturewithintheEUisprimarilygearedtowardsincreasingproductionandsales,particularlybyencouraginginnovationandcooperationandimprovingtheaccessibilityofavailableknowledge.

Inthefaceofincreasingpressureonthepartofconsumers,socialinterestgroups,theDutchgovernmentandtheEU,thetaskistofosterthesustainableeconomicdevelopmentofthefishingindustry.



Policy

SpatialplanningpolicyInprinciplethefishingindustryhas‘accesstoallareas’.Nonetheless,activitiesinthenationalinterestaregivenpriority.Furthermore,preconditionsaresetbyEuropeannaturelegislation(Natura2000).TheNatura2000areasofVoordelta,VlaktevandeRaanandNorthSeaCoastalZoneare–partiallyorsubjecttoconditions–closedtoformsoffishing(seesection4.2).Actionsthatarecurrentlybeingundertakentomakethefishingsectormoresustainablewillleadtoconsiderablylessbottomtrawlingandhencemoreopportunitiesformarineaquaculture.Mergingoffishingactivitieswithotherusesseemsincreasinglymorefeasible.

SustainablefishingTheCommonFisheriesPolicydeterminesthemarinefishingpolicyatEuropeanlevel.ThemostimportantobjectiveoftheCommonFisheriesPolicyistomaintainfishstockssoastoenablesustainablefishingpractices.Moreover,theNetherlandshasbeenendeavouringtoseetoitthatmeasuresaretakenduringtheplanningperiodoftheEuropeanMaritimeandFisheriesFund(EMFF)toensurethecontinuationofeffortstorenderfishingandaquaculturemoresustainable.NationalpolicyalsotiesinwiththefulfilmentofEuropeanobjectives.ThepolicywithregardtosustainablefishinginthelightoftheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirectiveisfleshedoutinsection4.2.


Currentsituationanddevelopments

TheNorthSeacontainsvaluablearchaeologicalheritage.Countlessshipshavesunkhereoverthecenturies.WhatremainsofthewrecksnowlittertheNorthSeabedlikegenuinetimecapsules.Goingbackmuchfurther,tenthousandyearsago,theNorthSeawasnotyetasea,andourdistantancestorslivedinthisareaashunter-gatherers.ThematerialremainsandrelicsofhumanactivityintheNorthSeaconstituteanimportantsourceofknowledgeofourpast.Aslongastheseareontheseabed,theycanbepreservedforthousandsofyearsorevenlonger.However,increasingspatialplanningdevelopmentsatseaalsoheightentheriskofvaluablearchaeologicalsitesorartefactsbeinginadvertentlylost.Inaddition,deliberateplunderingofwrecksfortheirpreciouscargoor,inthecaseofmorerecentwrecksduetotheirmetalvalue,isontherise.Detectionandsalvagetechnologiesarebecomingincreasinglyadvanced,asaresultofwhichwrecks,eventhoseatgreaterdepth,arebecomingmoreandmoreaccessible.

Visionandtasking

TheNorthSeahasimportantsocioculturalandhistoricalsignificancefortheNetherlands,andisasourceofknowledge.TheVisiononCulturalHeritageandSpace(2011)58includesanobjectivefortheNorthSeawhichstipulatesthatarchaeologicalheritagebeproperlyconsideredwhenitcomestospatialdevelopmentsintheNorthSea.

Thetaskistheconservationofsitesoritemsofarchaeologicalvalue.Thereispotentialherefortensionstoariseinrelationtoactivitiesinthenationalinterest.Byinventoryingsitesoritemsofarchaeologicalvaluetimely,itisusuallypossibletoassimilatearchaeologicalsitesandthuscombinethemwithotherusesofspace.Ifthisisnotpossible,anotheroptionistoexcavatethearchaeologicalsites,therebysafeguardingtheirscientificvalue.

58 The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and ‘Kiezen voor karakter’ (‘Choosing Character’, the mission of the Vision on Cultural Heritage and Space, 15 June 2011).

3.11 Underwater Cultural Heritage

Policy

CentralgovernmentpolicyisbasedonthepointsofdepartureoftheMaltaConvention,particularlytheeffortstowardspreservingsitesoritemsofarchaeologicalvalueontheseabed(insitu),takingarchaeologicalimportanceintoconsiderationwithinspatialplanningpolicyandguaranteeingthatenvironmentalimpactstatementsandthedecisionsstemmingfromthesetakearchaeologicalsitesandtheircontextintoaccount.Finally,thebasicpremiseisthatthecostsoftherequisitearchaeologicalstudyarebornebythepartydisturbingtheseabed(the‘disturberpays’principle).

SpatialplanningInordertogiveheritageanadequateplacewithinmaritimespatialplanningdevelopments,itisimportanttohavesufficientinformationavailableonthesitesanditemsofarchaeologicalinterest.InconjunctionwithRijkswaterstaat,theCulturalHeritageAgencyoftheNetherlandshascommissionedtheproductionofapolicyadvicemapfortheNorthSea’ssubmergedarchaeologicallandscapes.ThismapwillcompriselandscapezoningfortheNorthSeaaccompaniedbygeo-archaeologicalresearchguidelinesforeachzoneforthepurposesofEIAproceduresandpermitissuance.Thismapisexpectedtobeavailableattheendof2015.ThedatabasewithhistoricshipsiteswillalsobeupdatedbytheCulturalHeritageAgencyoftheNetherlands.Thishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).Bothproductswillpromotebetterconsiderationofarchaeologicalinterestswithinspatialplanning.

RequirementsintermsofexcavationsWithinterritorialwatersandthecontiguouszone(theareabeyondterritorialwatersoutto24nauticalmiles),theexcavationofarchaeologicalheritage,whichincludesthewreckscitedabove,requireapermitunderSections45to47aoftheMonumentsandHistoricBuildingsAct(Monumentenwet)1988.Moreover,theMonumentsandHistoricBuildingsAct1988initspresentformstipulatesthatwhencarryingoutworkanyobjectsfoundthatmay


reasonablybeassumedtobeofcultural-historicalinteresttobereportedtotheCulturalHeritageAgencyoftheNetherlands.

Inthecaseofwrecksofcultural-historicalvalue,moredetailedconsiderationisrequiredbeforethesearesalvagedorremoved.SuchconsiderationshouldbeguidedbythefundamentalprinciplesoftheannextotheUNESCOConventionontheProtectionoftheUnderwaterCulturalHeritage(2001).Theaimofthisconventionistocombattheplunderingofunderwaterarchaeologicalheritage,particularlyshipwrecks.Inparticular,aswellasbeingalegislativeinstrument,itisthemechanismforinternationalcooperationthattheconventionprovidesthatisimportant.Furthermore,theMaltaConventionandtheUNESCOConventionobligestatesthatarepartytotheconventionstoprotectunderwaterculturalheritageandmitigateadverseeffectswithinthescopeoftheseconventionsforeconomicactivitiesfallingundertheirjurisdiction.Atpresent,theCabinetislookingintostepstoensureratificationoftheUNESCOConventionontheProtectionoftheUnderwaterCulturalHeritage.

DesignationofnationalheritagesitesTheMinisterforEducation,CultureandScienceisauthorisedtodesignatearchaeologicalsitesasprotectednationalheritagesites.Thisisdoneonthebasisofadesignationprogramme(alsoreferredtoasaprotectionagenda).Criteriafordesignationarecleanliness,thecultural-historicalvalueorthescientificsignificanceofsuchasite.Theauthoritytodesignatenationalheritagesitesextendstotheboundaryofterritorialwaters.Todate,thisauthorityhasnotbeenexercisedintheNorthSea.Inthe2013ArchaeologyProtectionAgendatheMinisterstatedherintentiontodesignatetheshipwreckAanloopMolengat,a17th-centurywrecklocatedsome3nauticalmilestothewestoftheislandofTexel.


3.12 Tourism and recreation

Awiderangeofrecreationalactivitiestakesplaceclosetotheshore.Nearly2.6millionpeopletakepartinsomeformofsportatseaorattheseasideonceormorefrequentlyeachyear.Inadditiontosailing,thereisalsosurfing,waterskiinganddiving.Swimming,divingandsnorkellingrequiregoodwaterqualityandbiodiversity.

TheincreasinguseofspaceontheNorthSeaisimpactingrecreationatsea.Windfarmsarepushingrecreationalsailorsoutintoregularshippinglanes.Whencrossingmilitaryexercisezones,itisimperativetokeepabreastofnoticestoskippers.

Recreationalactivitiesatseaandonthecoastaffectthemarineecosystem.Theygeneratewaste,litteringthedunes,thebeachesandtheseaitself.Recreationalvesselsandcruiseshipsemitgreenhousegases.Natureneedstomakewayforbuildings,andthehighvolumeofvisitorstocoastalareasdisturbsthepeaceandquiet.Atsea,shipwrecksmakeappositebreedinggroundsforfish,whicharevulnerabletotheactivitiesofplunderers.

Visionandtasking

MarineandcoastalrecreationisanimportantfactorinthespatialplanningoftheNorthSeaand,assuch,mattersmustbeproperlycoordinatedbetweentheresponsibleregionalparties.

Itisanticipatedthatuseoftheseaandcoastforvariousrecreationalpurposeswillbecomemoreintensiveinthefuture.Increasingparticipationinrecreationalsailingwillcreateaneedformore,better-equippedmarinasalongtheNorthSeacoast.Furthermore,futureaswellascurrentwindfarmscallsforreconsiderationofthebanonpassage,withsafetybeinganissuehere.Theincreasingvolumeofcruiseshiptrafficwillalsogiverisetotaskingpertainingtologisticsandtheenvironment.


Theperceivedvalueoftheseaandcoastisconsiderable.Fromthecoast,theseaappearstobeaboundlessexpanseofwater.Duetotheinfluenceoftheelements,theswellofthesea,ebbandflow,theNorthSeaneverlooksthesame.ThislandscapeandtheuniquecharacteristicsofthedifferentcoastaltownscontributetothesocioculturalvalueoftheNorthSeaandcoast.Thisvaluefindsexpressioninthenumberofrecreationalusersoftheseaandcoast.The250-kmlongsandybeachandtheduneareabehinditdrawtouristsfromhomeandabroad.Marinasandbathingresortshavesprungupalongthecoast.FortheNetherlandsasawhole,tourismmakesup3%oftheNetherlands’GrossDomesticProductand5%ofjobs.Around25%ofovernightstaysinthesectorarealongthecoast.A2013studycommissionedbytheEuropeanCommissionestimatesthattheaddedvaluefortheNetherlandsofmaritimeandcoastaltourism,includingcruiseships,marinasandpleasurecruising,amountsto3.7billioneuros.59

RecreationalsailingontheNorthSeahasbeenontherisefordecades.Thisinvolvesprivatleyownedsailingboatsandmotorboatsaswellaschartervessels.Accessibilityofmarinas,spaceontheopenwaterandsafetyareimportanttothesepeople.Theincreaseindemandforberthshasgivenrisetoashortageofcoastalmarinas.Atpresent,provincesarelookingfornewsites.TheriseinrecreationalsailingisalsoevidentfromthefactthatanincreasingnumberofcruiseshipsarecallinginatDutchports.

Evenanglers(recreationalfishingwithrods)areincreasinglyactiveatsea.Therearenow650,000ofthem.165millioneurosarespentonanglingeachyear.Theanglersfishfromtheshore,fromsmallboatsandfromcharteredboats.

Sportdiversdivedowntoshipwrecks.

59 European Commission, DG MARE. Blue Growth. Scenarios and Drivers for Sustainable Growth from the Oceans, Seas and Coasts. Third Interim Report. 13 March 2012.


Policy

Asanetworkpartner,theCentralGovernmentisactivelyengagingincollaborationeffortsbetweenentrepreneurs,marketinstitutionsandresearchinstitutesforminga‘topteam’tofacilitatetourismandrecreationandtogiveitaboost.60Localandregionalgovernmentauthoritiesareusuallyactiveinasimilarcontextatandclosetothecoast.TheCentralGovernmentconsultswithlocalandregionalgovernmentauthoritiesandotherpartieswhenspatialplanningorotherpolicydevelopmentsontheNorthSeaimpactmaritimeandcoastalrecreation.

ActivitiesontheNorthSeacanlimitspaceforrecreationaluse.MultipleuseofspaceisthefundamentalprinciplefortheCentralGovernmentwhenitcomestoconsideringtheactivitiesthatrequirespaceontheNorthSea(seealsosection4.3ontheconsiderationssurroundingpassageandcollectiveuseofwindfarms).

Inaddition,tourismandrecreationplayaroleinseveralotherpolicyareas.FundamentaltotheNationalCoastalVision61isunifyingprotectionofthecoastandspatialdevelopment.AnunobstructedviewofthehorizonisimportantfortheperceivedvalueoftheNorthSeaandcoastalrecreation(seesection5.3).Forreasonspertainingtoculturalhistoryandbiodiversity,measuresarebeingimplementedtoprotectshipwrecks(seesection3.11).

60 Part of the Delta Programme 2014, Dutch House of Representatives, 2013-2014 session, 33 750-J, no. 4 (appendix).

61 Delta Programme Coast 2014, National Coastal Vision, September 2013.


recreationsectoronlandhasbeenabletodevelopinpartthankstotheappealoftheseaandtheopportunitiestheseaoffers.Potentially,newmarinaswillbedeveloped.Inaddition,therearedevelopmentsanticipatedintermsofaquacultureandmariculture.

Table3.2presentsanindicativeoverviewofrelevantsectors/designateduses,accompaniedbytheirspatialdependencyrelationshipsonlandandatsea.

SpatialplanningInthespatialplanningofactivitiesatseaandonthecoast,atleasttheinteractionbetweenlandandseaistakenintoaccountinsofarasthispertainstothedirectphysicalrelationships,suchasthelocationofaportandashippingrouteorthecableconnectionbetweenawindfarmandthelandingpoint.

Fullconsiderationisnotalwaysgiveninadvancetomoreindirectrelationships,suchastherequisitespaceforassemblingwindfarms.Inconnectionwiththefeasibilityofthepolicy,carryingoutamoresystematicanalysisofthesederivativerelationshipswouldbeefficient.Hereareopportunitiesonwhichtheprivatesectorcancapitalise.Forinstance,aninnovativeideawasdevelopedprivatelytouseaportatseaforthepurposesofassemblingwindfarms,notjustintheDutchpartoftheNorthSeabutalsoforthebenefitofneighbouringcountries.NaturalsystemsThenaturalsystemsofthecoastandoftheseaareinextricablyintertwined.Coastalwatersconstituteabreedinggroundforallkindsofspeciesoffish,thecoastisabreedinggroundforbirds,andthesandandthedykespresentahabitatfornumerousvarietiesofbottomdwellersandahomeforsalt-tolerantplants.Peopleareincreasinglydevelopinganunderstandingofhowbiochemicalandmorphologicalprocessesarelinkedandaffectandshapethesystem’squalities.Notsurprisingly,land-basedandmarinenaturereservesareinter-connected.ThistiesinwiththecriteriastemmingfromapplicationoftheBirdsandHabitatsDirectives.


Designatedusesatseacannotbeconsideredseparatelyfromdesignatedusesonland.Theinteractionbetweenthemplaysaroleinspatialplanning,innaturalsystems,fromasocioculturalperspectiveaswellasfromtheperspectiveofsocialandadministrativeinvolvement.

Boththelong-termvisionfortheNorthSea(seesection2.3.4)andtheDirectiveestablishingaframeworkformaritimespatialplanning62requestthattheinteractionsaretransparent.

Severaldesignateduses,particularlyshippingandfishing,havehadhistoricalconnectionswiththeland.Afterall,coastalareashavetraditionallybeensettlementareasbecauseofthereadyavailabilityoffishnearbyandgoodconnectiontoother(overseas)territories.Intermsofshipping,itwasnotjustamatterofportsbutalsoshipbuilding.Forfishing,theassociationwithfishingcommunities,fishingportsandtheprocessingindustrywasimportant.

Theflipsideofthiswasthatthelandneededtobeprotectedfromtheeffectsofthesea:floodscausedbystorms,andtheingressionofsaltinagriculturalareas.Thefundamentalphilosophyunderlyingthecoastaldefencepolicyistobe‘soft’whereverpossible(bymeansofsandreplenishmentusingsandobtainedfromthesea)and‘hard’wherenecessary(flooddefences).Dutchwaterpolicyisfocusedonpreservingfreshwaterandcombatingingressionofsaltwaterbymeansofseparationofriverdischargeandthelocationofinletpointsfordrinkingwaterandwaterforagriculturaluse.Toalargeextent,theseaspectshaveshapedthespatialoutlayoftheNetherlands.

Inrecentdecadesotherdesignatedusesoftheseahavearisen,eachwiththeirowndependenceontheland.Forthepurposesofoilandgasextraction,andmorerecentlythegenerationofrenewableenergy,pipelinesandcablesconnecttheplatformsandturbinestolandingpointsoncoastandthenwiththehinterland.Thetourismand


3.13 Interaction between land and sea

Table 3.2 Indicative overview of sectors/usages with their spatial land-sea

interactions/connections

Sector/designateduse Atsea Onland

Electricityproduction (Wind) energy farms Assembly in portsBuilding of special ships

Cables Landing / connection to the grid

Cooling water inlet / outlet Power stations

Room for experimentation

Commercialmineralextraction

Sand extraction sites Desalination / transshipment port

Shell extraction Trans-shipment port

Coastaldefence Sand extraction sites Beach and foreshore replenishment

Oilandgas Exploration

Production platforms Service industry (including helicopters, supplies)Maritime sector (construction, research, etc.)

Pipelines and cables Landing / connection of pipelines and cables

Dismantling Processing capacity

Search & Rescue (SAR) capacity

CO2storage Vacant gas fields CO2 capture units

Platforms

Pipelines Landing points

Shipping Shipping routing measures Ports

Trans-shipmentPassenger terminals for ferries and cruises Inland shipping

Dumping sites for dredging Dredging ports

Floating trans-shipment Ports

ShipbuildingShipping assistance / coastguardSearch & Rescue (SAR) capacity

Militaryuse Exercise zones Military airbasesExercise zones and shooting rangesMilitary ports

Fisheries Fishing zones Fishing portsFish processing industry

Aquacultureandmariculture Hatcheries Fishing portProcessing industry

Telecommunications Cables Landing points / exchanges

Recreation Free routesDive sitesFishing locations

Marinas

Beach, pier

Swimming and surfing locations Beach

Maritime sector (building, maintenance)

Unobstructed view of the horizon Beaches / dykes

SAR / rescue operations (KNRM)



actionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).Inviewofthepotentialpresentedbytheinteractionbetweenlandandsea,anothertaskistoactivelyinvolvelocalcoastalcommunities,localandregionalgovernmentauthoritiesandotherinterestedpartiesasearlyonaspossibleindevelopmentsatseathatwillhaveconsequencesforthelandandforthecoastinparticular.

Policy

Whenformulatingspatialplanningpolicy,specificattentionneedstobepaidtotheinteractionbetweenlandandsea,havingdueregardfortheimplementationoftheDirectiveestablishingaframeworkformaritimespatialplanning.Dialoguewithneighbouringcountriesonhowtodothisisimportantinthisrespect.Thishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Evenactivitiesonlanddeterminethequalityofthemarineecosystem.Tacklingsourcesofpollutiononlandandatseaandpurifyingwastewaterhasresultedinagreatdealofimprovement.TheWaterFrameworkDirectiveistheinstrumentforacatchmentarea-orientedapproach.Litterisanaspectthathasbeenreceivingthenecessaryattentionmorerecently.Upstreamsourcesareasignifi-cantelementintheoriginofwasteatsea,alongsidewastegeneratedbyactivitiesassociatedwiththeseaandwasteproducedbythoseengaginginrecreationalactivitiesatthecoast.SocioculturalSincetimeimmemorialtherehavebeenlinksbetweencoastalresidentsandactivitiesatsea.Generationsoffishermenhavedeterminedthecultureoflocalcoastaltowns.Inmorerecenttimes,therecreationsectorhashadasignificantimpact.Perceptionoftheseaplaysanimportantrole.Asculturalheritage,theseaasawholecontributestotheidentityoftheNetherlands.

SocialandadministrativeinvolvementDuetothefactthatdevelopmentsatseaoftensetrequirements(e.g.intermsofspatialplanning)fororaffectthelandandviceversa,itisimportanttoensurethatvariouspartiesareappropriatelyinvolved,particularlycoastalresidentsandthoserepresentingtheirinterests.Fromanadministrativepointofview,therelationshipbetweenthecompetentauthorityatseaandthecompetentauthorityonlandisrelevant.

Visionandtasking

Fromavarietyofperspectives,coastalandmaritimedevelopmentsarecloselyconnectedandaffecteachother.Linkinglandandseawithoneanotherinspatialplanningpolicyenablespotentialtobeexploitedandqualitiestobereinforced.Fromthispointofview,anintegratedapproachisnecessarytoensureoptimumareadevelopment.Developmentsatseaandonlandareconsideredinacomprehensivefashionwithactiveparticipationonthepartofinterestedpartiesandthoroughadministrativeharmonisation.

ThetaskistosystematicallyanalysethemoreindirectrelationshipsbetweenseaandlandintermsoftheneedforadditionalCentralGovernmentpolicy.Thisparticularlyholdsforthesectorsdevelopingmostrapidly,suchasthewindenergysector.Thisanalysishasbeenincludedasan


4


Section3describedthemarineecosystemandthedesignatedusesoftheNorthSea.Thefundamentalprincipleinthoserespectsissustainableusepreservingtheintegrityoftheecosystem.Inthecaseofanumberofthedesignatedusesdescribed,thechangesaresuchthatthesewill,alsointhelightoflong-termpolicy,generatesocialtasksthatcallfornewpolicyforthe2016-2021planningperiod.Thissectionsetsoutwhatisrequiredinordertofulfilthetasksset.Itpertainstotheprogrammeofmeasuresinconnectionwiththemarinestrategyandthetasksforwindenergyatseaandsandextraction.

Policy for social tasks

4.1 Introduction


measuresalsoincludesavarietyofmeasuresbeingimplementedbytheNetherlandsinconjunctionorinharmonywithothercountriesinaninternationalcontext.Theprogrammeofmeasuresdescribes(whererelevant)Dutcheffortsandcoordinatingactivitieswithinthescopeofthisinternationalcontext.

Cooperationwiththebusinessworldandcivilsocietyisakeysuccessfactorformarinestrategy.

Themeasureshavebeencategorisedbydescriptor(elementthatdescribestheenvironmentalstatus).Thedescriptorsaredescribedinannex1totheMSFD.Theypertainto:1 Biodiversity,2 Exoticspecies,3 Fish,4 Foodwebs,5 Eutrophication,6 Seabedintegrity,7 Hydrographicproperties,8 Pollutants,9 Pollutantsinfish,10 Litter,and11 Energysupply,includingunderwaternoise.

Inviewoftheirinterconnectivity,descriptors1,3,4and6aredescribedtogether.

Attheendofsection4.2adescriptionisprovidedoftheanticipatedefficacyoftheprogrammeofmeasuresintermsofcontributiontoachievingthegoodenviron-mentalstatus.

Measurespertainingtothemarineecosystem

For2020,Dutcheffortsrelatingtothemarineecosystem(descriptors1,3,4and6)aregearedtowardsreversingthedeteriorationofthemarineecosystemcausedbydamagetoseabedhabitatsandbiodiversitytodevelopmentinthedirectionofrecovery.Theambitionistoultimatelyarriveatasituationwherehabitatsandspeciesareinharmony

TheNetherlands’marinestrategyisgearedtowardsachievingandmaintainingagoodenvironmentalstatusfortheDutchpartoftheNorthSeafrom2020onwards.ThisgoodenvironmentalstatuswillentailtheNorthSeabeingclean,healthyandproductive,theecosystemfunctioningoptimallyandbeingresilient,anduseoftheseabeingsustainable.

TheCabinetisworkingwiththreepolicy-relatedstartingpointsinordertoaccomplishthis(seesection3.2):1 renderingusesustainable;2 area-orientedandspecies-orientedapproach;3 creatingadditionalopportunitiesforecosystem recovery.

Fulfillingtheobjectivespertainingtonatureandtheenvironmentwillrequiremeasurestobeimplemented.ThesemeasuresaredescribedinMarineStrategypart3oftheMSFD’sProgrammeofMeasureswhich,alongwiththePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea,hasbeenappendedtotheNationalWaterPlan.Thissectionincludesasummaryofthisprogrammeofmeasures.

Themarinestrategyintegratespreconditionsandambitionsintermsofnature,theenvironmentandsustainableeconomicdevelopment,andwherenecessarysupplementsthesesoastoachieveormaintainthegoodenvironmentalstatus.ThistiesinwiththecontextofEuropeanpolicy,wheretheMSFDconstitutestheenvironmentalpillaroftheintegratedmaritimepolicy.

Evenatinternationallevel,increasingintegrationofmarineenvironmentalpolicyisunderway,forexamplewhenitcomestoindicatorsandmonitoring,protectionofmarineareas,andmeasures,bothatEuropeanlevelandinconnectionwithOSPAR.Furthermore,therevisedCommonFisheriesPolicyisalsocontributingtothegoodenvironmentalstatus.Finally,withininternationalframeworks,suchastheIMO,moreandmoremeasuresarebeingproposedtoachieveasustainableseaandsustainableusethereof.

Theprogrammeofmeasurescontainsbothexistingandsupplementarymeasures,insofarasthesefallunderthejurisdictionoftheNetherlands.Theprogrammeof

4.2 Programme of measures for Marine Strategy


TheNetherlandsislookingintowhetherornottointroducefurtherprotectionforthesespeciesand,ifso,howtogoaboutthis.

• In2003OSPARacceptedarecommendationtocreateacoherentEuropeanecologicalnetworkofmarineprotectedareas.Todate,theNetherlandshas5marineprotectedareas(designatedundertheBirdsandHabitatsDirectives)registeredwithOSPAR.ThesearetheNatura2000areasofNorthSeaCoastalZone,Voordelta,VlaktevandeRaan,DoggerBankandCleaverBank.Theseareasareexplainedbelow.

• WithintheCoastalZone,theNatura2000areasofVoordelta,VlaktevandeRaanandNorthSeaCoastalZoneweredesignated,withmanagementplanshavingbeendrawnupfortheseareas.Activitiesareregulatedwithinthe12-milezonebywayofconditionsforexemption,permitconditionsandmitigatingmeasures,suchascodesofconductandthetemporaryclosureofareas.Thetemporaryandpermanentclosureofareasisdesignedtogivebirdsandsealssufficientpeaceandquietinsuchplacesasforagingareasandbreedingandnestinggrounds.From1January2016bottomtrawling(or‘dragging’)withticklerchainswillnolongerbeapermittedmethodoffishinginNorthSeaCoastalZoneandVlaktevandeRaanundertheFishinginProtectedAreasagreement(VIBEG).TheseabedprotectionmeasuresintheVoordeltaareahavebeenlinkedtothecompensationtaskfortheconstructionofMaasvlakte2.

• Whenengagingincoastal(beach)replenishmentactivities(includingextractionandtransport),maintenanceofcablesandpipelinesintheNatura2000areaofNorthSeaCoastalZoneandmanagementofbeaches,considerationisgiventothepresenceofbreedingsites,byobservingzoningforthefieldofoperationsandbycarryingouttheworkoutsideofbreedingseason.

• TheNatura2000areasCleaverBankandDoggerBank(HabitatsDirectiveareasintheDutchEEZ)areprotectedfromfishingpracticesthatdisturbtheseabedinlinewithagreementsstemmingfromtheinternationalFIMPAS/DoggerBankAgreement63.Forpartoftheyear,FrisianFront(whichisbeingdesignatedasaBirdsDirectivearea)isclosedtofishingwithstandingrigginginconnectionwithhibernatingseabirds.Themeasures

63 FIMPAS: Fisheries Measures in Marine Protected Area’s

withphysiographic,geographicandclimatologicalcircumstances.Thiswillentailanumberofenvironmentalobjectives:

• Effortstofosterbiodiversity(descriptor1)will,intermsofspeciescoveredbytheBirdsDirective,bedeterminedbynationaltargetsundertheBirdsDirective.FormarinemammalscoveredbytheHabitatsDirective(commonseal,greysealandharbourporpoise),thetargetsstipulatedintheHabitatsDirectivewillprevail.Further-more,withregardtothedemographiccharacteristicsoffish,birdandmarinemammalspecies,thegoalistoarriveatacompositionofnaturalsizeandagegroups,sexratios,reproductionanddeaththatcharacteriseresilientpopulations.

• Effortsfocusedonspeciesofcommercialfish,crustaceansandshellfish(descriptor3)aregearedtowardsimprovingthesizeandconditionofthepopulationsandpropagationofvulnerablespeciesoffish;limitingdeathcausedbyfishing;ensuringsufficientbiomassofspawningaggregations;andminimisingdiscardsinfishing.

• Effortstoensurehealthyfoodwebs(descriptor4)aregearedtowardsreducingtheeffectofhumaninter-ventionsoninteractionsbetweendifferenttrophiclevelsinthefoodweb.

• Effortstopreserveseabedintegrity(descriptor6)aregearedtowardsimprovingthequalityofthedeeper,silt-richpartsanddeeper,non-dynamicsandbedsintheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaandimprovingthesize,conditionandpropagationofpopulationsoflong-livedandvulnerablebenthosspecies.

Measuresinrelationtoareasandspecies

Existingmeasures• In2003theOSPARCommissiondrewupalistof

threatenedanddecliningspeciesandhabitats.Basedonthislist,theOSPARCommissionaccepted44recommendationsduringthe2010-2014period,onthebasisofwhichthepartiestotheConventionaretoascertainwhethercollectiveand/ornationalmeasuresarerequired.InthecaseoftheNetherlands,thispertainsto16speciesand5habitattypes,includingharbourporpoise,shark,rayandEuropeanflatoyster.


Figure 4.1 Marine ecosystem

on Frisian Front (C) en Central Oyster Grounds (I)

area with restricted access for (certain types of) �shing

A Dogger bankB Cleaver bankC Frisian FrontD North Sea coasta l zoneE VoordeltaF Raan Flats

G Brown BankH Borkum Reef Ground

0 100 km

0 50 NMN




freshwater

search area for measures to protect the seabed



surface:

dunes

CH

G

F

E

A

D

I

B


• AttheFrisianFrontandCentralOysterGrounds,oneormoreareaswillbedesignatedwithaminimumsurfaceareaof1200km2forwhichseabedprotectionmeasureswillbeinforce.Inthisareaorintheseareas,fishingthatappreciablydisturbstheseabedwillnolongerbepermissible.Asaresult,atleast10%oftheDutchpartoftheNorthSeabed(includingprotectedareasalreadydesignatedundertheHabitatsDirective)willnotbeappreciablydisturbed.Thesearchareaisshownonthemapaccompanyingthissection.

• Themeasuresaregearedtowardsprotectingtheecologicallymostvaluableareasand,whereverpossible,towardsensuringtherecoveryoftheseabedecosystem.

• Withintheareaorareastowhichseabedprotectionmeasuresapply,sectionswillbedesignatedinwhichnotypesoffishingwhatsoeverareallowed(‘notake’).Inothersubsectionsfishingtechnologiesthatdonothaveanappreciableeffectontheseabedecosystemwillbepermitted.Thesesubsectionsshouldbeselectedcarefullytoallowcomparisonbetweenprotectionregimes.

• Whenascertainingtheeconomicimpactofmeasures,considerationwillbegiventovariousfishingtechnologies,currentfishingdataandtheinterestsofDutchandforeignfishermen.Developmenttowardssustainablefishingwillalsobelookedat.

• Asocialcost-benefitanalysiswillbepreparedforthepotentialmeasure(s).Inaddition,anyeffects(socio-economic,ecological)ofpossiblerelocationoffishingactivitieswillbefactoredin.

Itisreasonabletoexpectthattheecosystem’srecoverywillbetakeatleasttwotothreesix-yearMSFDcycles.Aftercarefulmonitoringofthedevelopments,itmaybepossibletodrawinitialconclusionsonecosystemrecoveryandefficacyofthetwoprotectionregimesin2028.Ifneedbe,themeasureswillbeadjusted(up,downorinsomeotherway)onthebasisofthisevaluationatthatjuncture.Abaselinemeasurementwillbetakenin2015.

AsidefromDutchstakeholders,foreignfishermenwhofishattheFrisianFrontandCentralOysterGroundswillalsobeinvolvedwhenaproposalforthemeasuresisbeingprepared,aswillstakeholdersfromtheseothercountries.Inconsultationwithothermemberstatesthathaveaninterestinbothareas,theNetherlandscan,withintheframeworkoftheprocedurefromArticle11oftheCommonFisheriesPolicy,submitajointrecommendationforameasuretotheEuropean

willbeimplementedincombinationwithresearchandmonitoringperformedforthepurposesofacquiringmoreknowledge.Thesemeasuresdovetailwithcurrenteffortstomakefishingmoresustainablecombinedwithadjustmentstothemanagementoffishstocks.TheproposedCommonFisheriesMeasuresforDoggerBank,CleaverBankandFrisianFrontwillonlybecomeeffectiveoncetheEuropeanCommissionhasassentedtothemeasuresandhasenshrinedtheseinalegalinstrument.Itisanticipatedthattheareaswillbedesignatedatthestartof2015,withapprovalofthemeasuresfollowinglateronin2015.

• TheHaringvlietLocksManagementDecree(Kierbesluit,2011)meansthattheHaringvlietlocksare‘leftajar’ifthewaterlevelintheHaringvlietislowerthansealevel.Thisisbeneficialtointernationalfishmigration,enablingmigratoryfish,includingsalmonandseatrout,topassthroughthelocksandheadupstreamtotheirspawninggrounds.

AdditionalmeasuresInadditiontotheimplementationoftheBirdsandHabitatsDirectivesandtogenericeffortstomakefishingsustainable,protectionwillbeofferedtotheseabedecosystemintheareasofFrisianFrontandCentralOysterGrounds.WithintheMarineStrategypart1,theseareasareregardedassearchareasforspatialplanningprotectionmeasures.Preconditionsinthisrespectare:theambitiontoprotect10-15%oftheDutchpartoftheNorthSeafromappreciableseabeddisturbanceandtominimisetheimpactofthefishingsector.

Basedonthesepreconditions,andfollowingconsultationwithfisheriesorganisationsandnatureorganisations,theCentralGovernmenthasformulatedanumberoffundamentalprinciplesfordevelopingapackageofmeasuresinitsdraftMSFDProgrammeofMeasures.DuringtheperiodthattheProgrammeofMeasureswillbeavailableforpublicconsultation,theCentralGovernmentwillcontinuetoengageindialoguewiththesestakeholders.Theresultsofthisprocesswillbeincorporatedintothedefinitivedecision-makingwhenitcomestofleshingoutthemeasures.ThemainpointsofthesewillbeincludedinthedefinitiveProgrammeofMeasuresandthePolicyDocumentontheNorthSeain2015.

Thefundamentalprinciples:


approachareselectivity,survival,regulations,marketandcompliance.Considerationisalsobeinggiventothediversityofthefleet,thecontributionbeingmadetotheproblemofdiscardsandtheimpactofthelandingobligation.

• In2014anexperimentwaslaunchedusingpulsefishing,tostudytheextenttowhichthistypeoffishingcancontributetotheintroductionofthelandingobligation.

• SustainabilityCertificates(suchasthatoftheMarineStewardshipCouncil,MSC)canhelpwhenitcomestoincreasingsupportfromsocietyandmakingthesectormoresustainable.TheEuropeanCommissionislookingintothepossibilityofdevelopingminimumcriteriaforaneco-labelforfishingandaquaculturethatappliestotheUnionasawhole.

Measurespertainingtoexoticspecies

Non-native(exotic)species(descriptor2)canhaveadverseeffectsonbiodiversityandecosystemservices.Theycanalsohavea(potentiallyserious)socialandeconomicimpact.Theaimistominimisetheriskofnewintroducti-onsofexoticspecies.Furthermore,workisbeingdoneoncontrollingandmanagingthesespecies.ThisisthecruxofthePolicyDocumentonInvasiveExoticSpecies(2008).Implementationofthepolicyalsoentailsdevotingattentiontoidentifyingnewspecies.

Existingmeasures• Conditionsattachedtotheissuanceofpermitsunder

theNatureConservancyActmustpreventrelocationofinvasiveexoticspecieswhentransportingshellfishforaquacultureandwhenmovingliveshellfishtoNatura2000areas.

• ThemanagementprogrammesfortheNatura2000areasincludemeasuresgearedtowardspreventingtheimportofexoticspeciesandcombatingthepresenceofinvasiveexoticspecies.

• TheimplementationoftheInternationalConventionfortheControlandManagementofShips’BallastWaterandSediments(BallastWaterConvention),althoughnotyetinforce,hasalreadybeenenshrinedinDutchlegislationandregulations.TheConventionobligesshipownerstopurifyballastwater.

• WithintheIMO,furtherconsultationisbeingengagedinonacommonapproachtoimplementingthevoluntaryhullfoulingdirectivetolimittheintroductionofexoticspeciesbywayoffoulingontheship’sshell.

Commission.TheEuropeanCommissionwillsubsequentlyestablishthemeasure.InternationalconsultationonajointrecommendationformeasuresontheFrisianFrontandCentralOysterGroundswillbeinitiatedduringthecourseof2015.PriortothedefinitiveproposalforprotectionmeasuresbeingsubmittedtotheEuropeanCommissionin2016,thiswillbepresentedtotheDutchHouseofRepresentatives.

Measurespertainingtocommercialfish,crustaceansandshellfish

OnlytheEUhastheauthoritytoimplementfishingmeasures,withtheEuropeanCommissionhavingtherightofinitiative.TheCommonFisheriesPolicywasamendedin2013,itsaimsbeingtoprotectthemarineenvironment(inlinewiththeMSFDandNatura2000),tomanageallcommercialspeciessustainablyandtobringaboutagoodenvironmentalstatusby2020.

Nationalpolicywithregardtocoastalandshellfishfishingisgearedtowardspromotingresponsiblefishingpracticesandwell-balancedexploitationoffishstocks,strivingtostrikeabalancebetweenfishingandnatureandtoeffectadifferentdivisionofresponsibilitybetweengovernmentandtheindustry.NationalpolicycontributestotheprimaryobjectiveoftheCommonFisheriesPolicy,namelytodevelopmanagementbasedonecosystems.Induecourse,thismustcreateastable,sustainablefoundationforfisheries,inawaythatfitsinwiththeeconomic,socialandemploymentobjectives,andwhichcontributestothefoodsupply.

Existingmeasures• TheaimistomanagestocksatthelevelofMaximum

SustainableYield(MSY)by2015,orbynolaterthan2020ifdoingsoearlierprovestobeimpossibleduetotheeconomicandsocialconsequences.TheCentralGovernmentisdedicatedtoproducingmanagementplansgearedtowardsthemixednatureofthefishingindustry,enablingbetterharmonisationofobjectivesforeachspeciesandactualcatchcomposition.

• Anotherprioritycentresonminimisingunwantedby-catchbyintroducingthelandingobligation.Thiswillhaveconsiderableconsequencesforthesector,forindividualfirmsandforfuturemethodsoffishing.TheDutchgovernmentiscommittedtoproducinganimplementable,enforceablelandingobligationthatisnotdifficulttocomplywithandfulfilstherequirementsoftheCommonFisheriesPolicy.Focalpointsofthe


Management.Tothisend,workisbeingdoneinconjunctionwithwatermanagersondevisingacoherent,integratedapproach,theaimofwhichistocomeupwithacustomisedprogrammetofulfiltargetsfornutrients,pesticidesandwaterquantity.

• TheNetherlandshasimplementedtheEUdirectiveonurbanwastewaterandfulfilstheminimumareaoutputrequirementsforphosphorusandnitrogen.

• Districtwaterboardsplantoimprove,orarealreadyengagedinimproving,purificationefficiencyatregionallevelinasubstantialproportionofsewagetreatmentplantspriorto2021.

Measurespertainingtohydrographicproperties

Thepolicyrelatingtodescriptor7isgearedtowardsensuringthathumanactivitiesdonotcauseachangeinhydrographicconditionsbringingaboutpermanentlarge-scalenegativeeffects.

Theeffectsofnewlarge-scaledevelopments,suchastheconstructionofMaasvlakte2andtheSandEnginerecently,havetobestudiedinenvironmentalimpactassessments,asprescribedintheEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentDirective.64.IntheNetherlandsthisDirectivehasbeenimplementedintheEnvironmentalImpactStatementDecree.Relativelylimitedinterventions,suchassandreplenishmentactivitiesanddredgingwork,areregulatedbywayofpermits.Ingeneral,anenvironmentalimpactstatementismandatory.Iftheenvironmentalimpactstatementrevealsthattheeffectsontheecosystematthemacroscaledonotconstituteirreversiblechanges,nofurtheractionwillberequired.Adverseeffectsonthemarineecosystemhavetobemitigated.Intheeventofsignificanteffectsonspeciesandhabitats,theprocedurefromtheNatureConservancyActwillbeinitiated(alternativesolutions,imperativereasonsofoverridingpublicinterest,mitigationandcompensation).ThustheseabedprotectionmeasuresintheVoordeltaareacompensatefortheconstructionfortheMaasvlakte2inthisNatura2000area.Seealsosection5,whichdescribestheassessmentframeworkforactivitiesintheNorthSea.

64 Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

• AnewEUconventiontocombatorlimittheintroductionandspreadingofexoticspeciesobligesmemberstatestodeviseasurveillancesystemandanactionplan.

Measurespertainingtoeutrophication

Eutrophication(descriptor5)isdetrimentaltobiodiversity,hasadverseeffectsontheecosystemandcausesharmfulalgalbloomsandaquatichypoxiainbottomwaters.EutrophicationintheNorthSeaiscausedbysourcesatseaandbytheintroductionofnitrogenandphosphatesbyriversandatmosphericdepositionfromsourcesonlandandatsea.Consequently,effortsarefocusedonreducingconcentrationsofnutrients.

TacklingsourcesatseaisgovernedbyIMOframeworks.MeasuresforsourcesonlandformpartoftheupdatedcatchmentareamanagementplansforRhine,Meuse,ScheldeandEems.TheseplanstoimplementtheWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD)formpartoftheNationalWaterPlan.Itisestimatedthatwithregardtoeutrophicationagoodenvironmentalstatuswillbewithinreachfrom2020onwards.However,apreconditionhereisthatthe(international)measuresagreedinconnectionwiththeWFDformeetingthetargetsfornutrientsareimplemented.ThefactthatthereareasyetonlyfewsignsofeutrophicationintheDutchpartoftheNorthSeashowsthatwehavesetoutontherighttrack.

Existingmeasures• Marinepollutioncausedbyshippingisregulatedinthe

MARPOLInternationalConventionforthePreventionofPollutionfromShips,orMARPOLConvention,drawnupbytheIMO.MARPOLregulatestheemissionofsubstancesandchemicalsintotheairandwateraswellasthedischargeofdomesticwastematerials.

• TheCabinetintroducedmandatorymanureprocessingasof1January2014.Thismeasureobligeslivestockfarmerstohaveapercentageofsurplusmanureproductionprocessed,thispercentagebeingdeterminedbythegovernment.ThesemeasureshavebeenincorporatedintotheFifthActionProgrammefortheNitratesDirective.

• InadditiontotheFifthActionProgrammefortheNitratesDirective,theagricultureandhorticulturesectordraftedtheDeltaPlanonAgriculturalWater


Measurespertainingtopollutants

Thepolicyinrelationtodescriptor8isgearedtowardsreducingconcentrationsofpollutantsintheseaandpreventingtheeffectsofthesesubstances,suchasTBT(thissubstanceisusedtocombathullfouling).

Thekeyplayersandpressurefactorsforpollutantsaremarinesources,suchasshippingandmining,andsourcesonland,suchasindustry,transportandagriculture.PollutantsarealsointroducedthroughtheChannelfromneighbouringmarineareas.

Europeanregulations,agreementsinconnectionwithOSPARandagreementsinconnectionwiththeIMOhaveresultedinfallsinconcentrationsofpollutantsinthemarineenvironmentsincethe1970s.Sealsandseabirdsbeingthreatenedwithextinctionduetopollutantsarenowathingofthepast,andconcentrationsofagreatmanysubstancesareinkeepingwithstandardsappropriateforahealthyenvironment.AconsiderableproportionofthemeasuresonlandhavebeenincorporatedintothecatchmentareamanagementplansundertheWFD.Afewpersistentsubstances,suchasPAHs,stilloccurinexcessivelyhighconcentrationsandwillcontinuetohavealageffectintheseabed,longaftertheimplementationofallmeasurespertainingtotheirusage,productionand/oremission.Thepresenceofmedicinesinsurfacewaterwillrequireattentionoverthenextfewyearsasapotentiallygrowingthreattothemarineenvironment.

Existingmeasures• TheBathingWaterDirective65wasimplementedin

theSwimmingFacilitiesHygieneandSafetyAct(Wethygiëneenveiligheidbadinrichtingenenzwemgelegen-heden).Thisestablishedstandardsthatmustbefulfilledintermsofbathingwaterquality,withbathingwaterincludingcoastalwaters.

• ThesignificanceoftheMARPOLConventionforcombatingdischargescausedbyshippinghasalreadybeenstatedinthedescriptionforthedescriptoreutrophication.

• MarinepollutioncausedbyshippinghasbeendrivendownbyabanonTBTintheInternationalConventionontheControlofHarmfulAnti-foulingSystemsonShips(200866).

• Thechangetoshippingroutesin2013intheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaisenhancingshippingsafety,therebyalsoreducingtheriskofadverseenvironmentaleffectsarisingasaresultofaccidents.

• DischargesfrommininginstallationsintheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaareregulatedundertheMiningAct,forexamplebywayofconditionsattachedtotheissuanceofenvironmentalpermitsforminingactivities.

• TheEUDirectiveonIndustrialEmissions67hasbeenimplementedintheEnvironmentalLicensing(GeneralProvisions)Act,theEnvironmentalManagementAct(ActivitiesDecree)andtheWaterAct.TheimplementationofSevesoIII68intheMajorAccidents(Risks)Decree1999limitstheconsequencesofmajoraccidentsforhumankindandtheenvironment.

• UndertheShips’WasteDecreeRhineandInlandShipping,abanondischargingdomesticwastewaterintosurfacewaterhasbeeninplaceforpassengervesselsandcabinvesselssince1January2012.

• TheEUDirectiveonsustainableuseofpesticides69hasbeenfleshedoutintheNetherlandstoformtheSustainableCropProtectionActionPlan70.National

65 Directive 2006/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 concerning the management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC.

66 International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, Tractatenblad (Treaty Series), 2008, 146.

67 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (recast).

68 Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directive 96/82/EC.

69 Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides.

70 Staatscourant, 2012, 14051.


environmentaltargetsaregearedtowardsreducingthequantityofvisiblelitteronthecoastandthequantityoflitterinmarineorganisms.

Descriptionofexistingmeasures

Setting the agenda and increasing awareness• Overthepastdecadepolicyonlitterandwastehasbeen

optimisedandimplementedatnationalandlocallevel.InitiativessuchasSupportervanSchoon(‘SupporterofClean’),theLandelijkeOpschoondag(‘NationalCleaningDay’)andKeepitCleanDayaregearedtowardspositivelyinfluencingbehaviourintermsoflitter.EventhePlasticHeroescampaignishelpingtoincreaseawarenessamongDutchconsumersoftheimportanceofcollectingplasticpackagingwasteseparately.

• In2014theMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentlaunchedthesiteDuurzaamDoen(‘SustainableAction’),theaimofwhichistotransformsustainablethinkingamongcitizensandentrepreneursintosustainableaction.Thisiseffectedby(forinstance)inspiringexamplesofsuchaction.

Beaches• Stakeholdersaroundbeaches,includingcoastal

communities,arecontributingtocreatingandmaintainingastateofgoodcleanlinessonDutchNorthSeabeaches.Moreover,initiativesandactionssuchasBlauweVlag(‘BlueFlag’),theCleanestBeachescontest(instigatedbytheNetherlandsCleanFoundation)andMyBeach(instigatedbytheNorthSeaFoundation)arehelpingtoincreaseawarenessamongvisitorstobeaches.

Catchment areas• SchoneMaasLimburgisajointventureinvolvingin

excessof25partiescooperatinginharmonywithoneanothertosetambitions.Inadditiontoannualclean-upcampaignscoveringalargesectionofthebanksoftheMeuse,SchoneMaasLimburgdoesitsutmosttoincreaseawarenessandsettheagenda.TheLitterCollectionSchemeintroducedbytheRijkswaterstaatSouthernNetherlandsentailsthatwastecollectedbyvolunteersalongriverbanksiscollectedandprocessedattheexpenseofRijkswaterstaat.

policystemmingfromtheDirectivehasbeenrecordedinthe2ndSustainableCropProtectionDocument(HealthyGrowth,HealthyHarvestDocument)71.

• Themostimportantagreementsforpreparation,cooperationandcoordinationfordisasterresponseanddealingwithincidentsatseahavebeenrecordedintheNorthSeaContingencyPlan,theCooperationRegulationonCounteringCoastalPollutionandtheEmergencyResponsePlan(tactical/operationallevel).InternationalcooperationisalsoinplaceundertheBonnConvention.

Measurespertainingtopollutantsinfish

Currentlevelsofpollutantsfoundinfish(descriptor9)andfishproductsdonotexceedthestandardssetbynationalandinternationallegislation.Measuresdescribedundereutrophicationandpollutantsarecontributingfactorsinthisregard.Thismeansthatinthecurrentsituationtheenvironmentalstatusisgood.Ifpolicyremainsunchanged,itisanticipatedthattheNetherlandswillbeabletomaintainthestatusquountil2020andbeyond.

Measurespertainingtolitter

Marinelitter(descriptor10)stemsfromhumanactivityatseaandonland.Throughouttheworldthereisagrowingawarenessoftheproblempresentedbyplasticsandotherlitterinthesea.Thefundamentalprincipleisthatlitterdoesnotbelonginthesea.IntheNetherlandsthereisalreadyagreatdealofpolicyinplace,andthereareplentyofpositivedevelopmentsunderwayamongcitizensandthebusinesscommunity.

AgoodenvironmentalstatuswillbeachievedintermsoflitterintheNorthSeaandalongthecoastoncethepropertiesandquantityoflitteratsea(includingbreak-downproductssuchasplasticfragmentsandmicro-plastics)donotcauseanyharmtothecoastalandmarineenvironment,andthequantitiesdiminishovertime.The


Table 4.1 Top 10 of most commonly found items on Dutch reference beaches * and the most important sectors to deal with the items **

No. Objects Approachprimarilythroughsector

1 (Plastic)netsandropes Fisheries

2 Piecesofplasticandpolystyrene All sectors

3 Plasticbags Plastic products

4 Plasticlidsandcaps Plastic products

5 (Plastic)crispbags,sweetbagsandlollysticks Beaches

6 Balloons,includingribbons,sealandvalve Plastic products

7 Plasticdrinksbottles Plastic products

8 Wood<50cm Not relevant - no action

9 Plasticpackagingforfoodincludingfastfood Beaches

10 Plasticindustrialpackagingandsheeting Shipping

* The reference beaches are not situated next to bathing beaches; this is why cigarette butts (for example) do not feature in the top 10, though measures are being implemented to tackle these.** Using a top 10 list of items found on beaches ties in with the development of (specific) targets within OSPAR and with the proposal from the EC for a 30% headline reduction target (reference document).



theVANGprogrammeandtheMSFD.TheLandelijkAfvalbeheerplan(‘NationalWasteManagementPlan’,orLAP2)containsnationaltargetsforseparatedwastecollectionandgeneralprinciplesfortoolssuchaspermitissuanceandenforcement.

• TheuseofplasticbagsintheNetherlandsisbeingreducedbymeansofself-regulation.Ifitturnsoutthattheindustries’measuresarenotcontributingtoeffectingasignificantreductioninuse,thenalternative,moredrasticmeasureswillbeconsidered,asoutlinedinaproposalbytheEuropeanCommissiontomodifytheDirectiveonPackagingandPackagingWaste.

DescriptionofsupplementarymeasuresTheabovemakesclearthatplentyofinitiativesarealreadyunderwayintheNetherlands.Asdescribedintheinitialassessment(MarineStrategyPart1),itisanticipatedthat,despitethemanifoldinitiatives,therehasbeennodeclineintheamountoflitterintheDutchpartoftheNorthSea.Furthermore,thebreakdownoftheplasticalreadypresentintheNorthSeaintomicroplasticswill(initially)increasethequantityofthesesecondarymicroplasticsinthefuture.Forthatreason,asupplementarypolicytaskhasbeenformulatedfor2020.

Thestartingpointforthesupplementarymeasuresisa‘top10ofmostcommonlyfounditems’onDutchreferencebeaches.Inadditiontothetop10,thetopicofmicroplasticsmeritsspecialattention.

Inordertocreateeffectivenewpolicyandtoexpandexistingpolicy,workisbeingdoneatnationalandinternationallevelwithgovernmentauthorities,thebusinesscommunityandsocialorganisations.Closecooperationwithstakeholdershasgeneratedwide-rangingpublicsupport.Variousmeasureshavebeenenshrinedinagreements,so-calledGreenDeals.Thisisaformallegaldocument.DuringtheimplementationperiodtheGreenDealsareactivelymaintainedasa‘platform’,whichanincreasingnumberofpartiesareabletojoin.Regularevaluationsarecarriedouttoascertainwhethertheambitionsrecordedarebeingachievedandfollow-upagreementsaremade.

On28June2014theOSPARRegionalSeasConventionestablishedtheRegionalActionPlan(RAP)forPreventionandManagementofMarineLitter.Theplansetsout

Shipping• TheNetherlandsenshrinedtheEUDirectiveonport

receptionfacilities72forship-generatedwasteandcargoresiduesinlegislationin2005.AdequateportreceptionfacilitiesareinplaceinallDutchports.

• TherevisedAnnexVoftheMARPOLConventionfromtheIMOcameintoforceon1January2013,partlyontheinitiativeoftheNetherlands.Therevisionintroducedanoutrightbanonshipsdischargingwaste,withtheexceptionoffoodwaste.OntheinitiativeoftheNetherlands,itwasagreedintheIMOthatthemarineenvironmentalawarenesscoursewouldbecomeamandatorycomponentinmaritimetrainingthroughouttheworld.

Fishing• Since2000,aroundonehundredfishingvesselshave

beenparticipatingintheFishingforLitterprogramme,whichentailswastethatiscaughtasby-catchbeingcollectedandprocessedinportsfreeofcharge.

Plastic products• Policyonlitterandwasteisenshrinedinvarious

directivesandagreements.Domesticandindustrialwasteiscollectedseparately,processedandreusedinasustainableway.EmissionsofmicroplasticsfromcosmeticsproductsarebeingreducedbyDutchcosmeticscompaniesvoluntarilyreplacingplasticmicrobeads.

• TheStateSecretaryforInfrastructureandtheEnvironmenthaslaunchedtheprogrammeVanAfvalNaarGrondstof(‘FromWastetoRawMaterial’,orVANG),theaimofwhichistohalvethequantityofwastebeingdumpedorincineratedwithinadecade.TheRaamovereenkomstVerpakkingen(‘FrameworkAgreementonPackaging’)2013-2022isencouragingareductioninpackagingandincreaseinrecyclingbyplacingtheonusonmanufacturers.Furthermore,therewillbeareductionintheproportionoflittermadeupofsmallbeveragepackagingonlandfrom2016onwardsbyintroducingpositiveincentivestocollectthisbeveragepackaging.

• TheKetenakkoordKunststofkringloop(‘PlasticCycleChainAgreement’),whichmorethan75partieshavenowsigned,isanimportantsteppingstonetoaddressmeasuresinconjunctionwithcompanies,researchinstitutesandNGOswithinthecontextof

72 Directive 2000/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2000 on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues.


- 15-20coastalcommunitiesareactivelyfacilitating cleaningcampaignsonthebeachinvolvingvolunteers;

- Thenumberofbeach-basedcateringestablishments withtheGreenKeyecolabel(forincreasingtheuseof sustainablemethodsofoperation)willdouble between2012and2020;

- Atleast10coastalcommunitiesareparticipatingin monitoringtheeffectsofcertainmeasures.

TheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentisseeingtoitthatknowledgeissafeguarded,exchangedanddeveloped.TheinstigatoroftheGreenDealisKIMO(LocalAuthoritiesInternationalEnvironmentalOrganisation)NetherlandsandBelgium73.

Catchment areas• Thereisstillscantattentionbeingpaidtotheissue

ofdealingwithlitterincatchmentareas.TheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentishighlightingatlocalleveltheimportanceofreducinglitteranddisseminatingknowledgeonthematter.Thispertainstothefollowingactions:

- Informationprovisionondealingwithlitter,thelitter problemandputtingitonwatermanagers’agendas;

- Facilitatingtheexchangeofknowledge,best practicesandtoolsbetweenwatermanagersby meansofknowledgemeetings,thelitterknowledge guideandassistance;

- Supportingprojectsandknowledgedevelopmentin termsofthecomprehensiveapproachtolitterin waterbyparticipatingandbyextractingandsharing knowledge.

• TheOSPARRegionalActionPlan(RAP)forPreventionandManagementofMarineLitterconcentrateseffortsonexchangingbestpracticessoastoreducewasteinrivers.

• ThesuccessfulapproachofSchoneMaasLimburgisbeingscaleduptoothercatchmentareasandwatersystems.

• ByrollingouttheLitterCollectionSchemethroughouttheNetherlandstotheregionalservicesofRijkswaterstaataswatermanager,theCentralGovernmentisencouragingpartnershipsforcleancatchmentareasandbeaches.TheLitterCollectionSchemeservesasaserviceandasameansofcommunication.

73 KIMO Netherlands and Belgium is an association of local authorities. The organisation is engaged in combating pollution of the North Sea, Irish Sea, north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea.

actionsforjointmeasuresandtargets.TheNetherlandshasaleadingroleinthedevelopmentofthenextOSPARmeasures:• givingabindingrecommendationonresponsiblewaste

managementonboard;• implementingregionalcoordinationforportreception

facilitiesdirectiveandimprovingimplementationofISOstandards;

• reducingimpactofdollyrope(includedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiodinsection7.2);

• exchangingbestpracticestoreducewasteinrivers;• tacklingmicroplasticsincosmeticsproductsandother

sources;• bolsteringtheagreementsfortheFishingforLitter

programme.

Agenda-setting and increasing awareness• Withregardtoincreasingawarenessofthelitter

problemandtoputtingitontheagenda,effortstothisendwilldovetailwithexistinginitiatives.Actionstoputthelitterproblemontheagendaofstakeholdersinclude:includingthelitter/plasticsoupprobleminthecontinuouslearningline(withtheCurriculumDevelopmentFoundation)andincreasingtheprominenceofthesubjectineducationandamongeducationprofessionals(throughtheDutchInstituteofBiology).AnEUeducationcallwillbeusedtoaskNGOsandotherorganisationsactivelyworkingineducationtoprovideeducationtoDutchschoolsfor7years.

Beaches• Coastalcommunities,entrepreneurs(e.g.owners

ofbusinessonbeaches),volunteersandsocialorganisationssignedtheCleanBeachesGreenDealon20November2014.Thisagreementshowshowthevariouspartiesareworkingtoreducewasteonbeachesandbringaboutmoresustainablebeachmanagement,andestablishesconcretenewactionsandtargetsfor2020:

- Allcoastalcommunitiesareparticipatinginthe GreenDealandthenumberofbeach-basedcatering establishments,socialorganisationsandother entrepreneurstakingpartisincreasingeachyear;

- 15-20coastalcommunitiesareactivelyparticipating ininfluencingbehaviour;

- 10-20coastalcommunitieshaveaspecificapproach todealingwithcigarettebutts;


Fishing• TheFisheriesWasteChainGreenDealseesthefisheries

sectorjoiningforceswithotherparties(theMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironment,ports,wasteprocessingfirms,etc.)tolookforwaystoclosethewastecycle,andindoingsotopreventwasteendingupinthesea.TheGreenDealwassignedon20November2014.76Oneofitsfundamentalprinciplesisthatoperationalanddomesticwastefromfishingvesselswillbehandedoveronshore.TheGreenDealrelatestothefisheries’primarywasteflows.Possibleactionsaregearedtowardssuchthingsas:

- storageonboardandremovalofdomesticwaste; - removalofoperationalmaritimewaste; - fine-tuningofport-basedcollectionfacilitiestothe

needsoffishermen; - continuationandreinforcementoftheFishingfor

Litterprogramme; - encouragingbehaviouralchangeonboardinrelation

todollyrope. TheinstigatoroftheGreenDealisKIMO(Local

AuthoritiesInternationalEnvironmentalOrganisation)NetherlandsandBelgium.Toincreaseawarenessofthewasteproblemwithinthefisheriessector,acoursehasbeensetupbyProSea,oneofthepartiestotheDeal.

Plastic products• Voluntaryreductionoftheuseofballoonsbywayof

cooperationwithlocalauthoritiesandbyjoininginwithinitiativesthatareunderway.

• ReducedemissionsfrommicroplasticsincosmeticsbyworkingtowardsaEuropeanbanonmicrobeadsincosmetics.Effortsarebeingconcentratedonrelatedactionsatbilateral,OSPARandEUlevel77.

76 The Fisheries Waste Chain Green Deal tackles significant sources of litter at sea. It is not known at present whether it will be possible to implement all intended measures in a cost-effective manner. This issue will be examined further in conjunction with those involved in the coming period.

77 Emissions from microplastics attributed to sources on land other than cosmetics are also being looked into. Efforts are being concentrated on this at bilateral, OSPAR and EU level.

Shipping• TheShippingWasteChainGreenDealwassignedwith

chainpartiesinshippingon10September2014.Thisentailsportauthorities,shipowners,shipsuppliers,managersofportreceptionfacilities,theNorthSeaFoundationandtheCentralGovernmentmakingconcreteagreementstoclosethemaritimewastecycle.TheinstigatoroftheGreenDealistheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironment.Concreteobjectivesaregearedtowardsseparatedcollectionofplasticmaritimewasteandrecycling:

- By2017,50%oftheshipshandingoverplasticwaste willhaveseparateditpriortohandingitoverin thoseDutchportswhereseparatedcollectionand processingarepossible;

- By2017,75%oftheshipsbelongingtomembersofthe RoyalAssociationofNetherlandsShipowners(KVNR) handingoverplasticwastewillhaveseparateditprior tohandingitoverinthoseDutchportswhere separatedcollectionandprocessingarepossible;

- By2017,allseparatedplasticwastehandedoverwill alsobecollectedseparatelybymembersofthe AssociationofMaritimeEnvironmentalService Providers(VOMS)74,100%ofthe(‘clean’)plastic wastecollectedbyVOMSmemberswillberecycled orturnedintofuel,andasmuchofthemixedplastic handedoveraspossiblewillbesortedandrecycled.

ThemeasuresfromtheGreenDealconcentrateefforts

onfourtopics: - Prevention:activepolicyforKVNR75shipownerson

boardandwastepreventionwhenitcomestosupplies; - Enforcement:makemoreuseofwastereportingand

actualdatapertainingtowastehandedover; - Harmonisationofprocedurespertainingtoport

receptionfacilities:Effortsarebeingconcentrated onthisatbilateral,OSPARandEUlevel.Whatisnow concreteisajointcostrecoverysystemagreedwith Flemishports;

- Separatedcollectionofmaritimeplasticwaste: Severalmeasureshavebeenintroducedtoencourage shipstohandoverplasticwasteseparatelyandto ensurethatthisisrecycledorturnedintofuelonland.

74 Dutch port reception facilities.75 Dutch shipowners.


measuresandanassessmentframeworkforthepurposesofdisposingofexplosiveswiththeaimofpreventingpotentiallysignificanteffects.TheMinistryofDefenceisresearchingtheeffectsofexplosivesordnancedisposalandlookingatoptionsforintroducingalternativetechnologiesormitigatingmeasures.Thishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Fiscalinstruments

TheMIAscheme,offeringataxrefundonenvironmentalinvestment,andtheVamilschemeprovidingforvoluntarydepreciationonenvironmentalinvestmentaregearedtowardsencouragingtax-efficientinvestmentinenviron-mentallyfriendlytechnologies.Thelistofenvironmentallyfriendlytechnologiestowhichtheseschemesappliesisupdatedonanannualbasis.Theschemesencompassaconsiderablenumberoftechnologiesrelevanttofulfillingtheobjectivesofthemarinestrategy,particularlyintermsofrenderingfishingmoresustainable,preventingtheintroductionofinvasiveexoticspecies,andreducingpollution,eutrophication,underwaternoiseandlitter.Thelistfor2015explicitlymentionsthatpyrolysisunitsarealsointendedforthethermaldisintegrationofplasticmaritimewaste.Forthepurposesofthe2016list,theinvestmentsintermsoffishingandbeachesthatwillbeeligiblefortaxrefundsundertheMIA/Vamilschemesarebeingexplored,inconjunctionwiththeFisheriesWasteChainGreenDealandtheCleanBeachesGreenDeal.Moreover,eachyearthelistfeaturesavarietyofinvestmentsthatcontributetothecirculareconomy.

Investigativestudiesandopportunitiesforthefuture

InordertoincreaseopportunitiesforsustainableuseoftheNorthSeaandfurtherlimitstrainonthemarineenvironmentandnature,anumberofinvestigativestudiesarebeingperformed.ThesewillprovideinsightintothenatureandscaleofactivitiesandtheopportunitiestopreventorlimittheeffectsoftheseontheNorthSea.Thestudiesarealsolookingatwherenewopportunitiescanbefoundtocontributetoenrichingbiodiversityand,ifpossible,fosteringrecoveryoftheNorthSeaecosystem,possiblyincombinationwithsustainablecollectiveuse.

Measurespertainingtounderwaternoise

Effortswithregardtounderwaternoise(descriptor11)aregearedtowardspreventingharmfuleffectsonmarinefaunacausedbyspecificactivitiesthatproduceimpulsenoise,suchaspile-drivingandseismicstudies.Theintensityofanthropogenicnoiseismuchgreaterthanthatofnaturalsounds,andthedistancesoverwhichitcanbeheardarelikewisegreater.Theeffectsofanthropogenicunderwaternoiseon,forexample,marinemammalsvaryfromminor,subtlechangesinbehaviour,avoidanceofareasanddiminishedhearingcapacity,to(inextremecases)immediatedeath.In2018,oncemoreknowledgeandinformationisavailable,itwillbepossibletosetadditionalobjectivesinaninternationalcontext(OSPAR,IMO)forbackgroundnoise,suchasthatcreatedbyshipping,andfortheaccumulationofeffectsofallformsofunderwaternoiseonpopulationsortheecosystem.Subsequently,itwillbepossibletoformulateadditionalpolicyifneedbe.

Existingmeasures• Permitsforwindfarmscontainconditionsforreducing

theeffectsonmarineanimalsofunderwaternoisecausedbypile-driving.Newinsightsgleanedfromresearchintounderwaternoisecouldresultinamendmentstotheconditionsattachedtopermits.

• UndertheNatureConservancyActandtheFloraandFaunaActintheEEZ,apermitundertheformeractand/orexemptionunderthelatteractisusuallyrequiredforthepurposesofcarryingoutseismicsurveysatsea.Theprocedureprovidesforanappropriateassessment(undertheNatureConservancyAct),aspeciesprotectiontest(FloraandFaunaAct)andaccompanyingmitigatingmeasurestoaddresspossibleharmfuleffectsofunderwaternoise.

• In2014,theIMOadoptedthenon-mandatoryGuidelinesfortheReductionofUnderwaterNoisefromCommercialShipping,theaimofwhichistoreduceunderwaternoisecausedbycommercialshipping.Thisrecommendationpertainstoshipstobenewlybuilt.

• ResponsibleuseofactivesonarintheinternalregulationsoftheMinistryofDefence(Instructionno.131totheRoyalNetherlandsNavyCommand)mustpreventorminimiseharmfulconsequencesofthetransmissionsofanti-submarinesonarsonmarinemammals.

• TheinternalcodeofconductforexplosivesordnancedisposalfromtheMinistryofDefencedescribes


coherenceandrepresentativeness,studyingtheeffectsofhumanactivityonspeciesandareasandlong-termprocesseslikeclimatechangeandacidificationandthesystemicimplicationsofincreasingsandextraction.EachyearaknowledgeagendaisestablishedfortheMSFD.Thishasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).

Contributiontoachievingagoodenvironmentalstatus

Theprogrammeofmeasurescontainsaconsiderablenumberofmeasuresthat,usingariskapproachandprecautionaryprinciple,willhelpachievetheenviron-mentaltargetssetbytheCabinetfortheDutchpartoftheNorthSeaby2020.Themeasuresarecontributingtothethreepolicy-relatedstartingpoints:renderingusesustainable,area-orientedandspecies-orientedapproach,andactiveecosystemrecovery.

ThemeasuresfocusonthemostsignificanthumanactivitiesontheNorthSeafromtheperspectiveofenvironmentalimpact.Theprogrammecoversthevastmajorityoftherelationshipsbetweenuse,strainandeffectonmarineecosystemandresponse.Existingandproposedpolicywillbringagoodenvironmentalstatuswithinreachby2020orintheensuingperiod,intermsofsuchthingsasreducingpollutionandeutrophication,developinghealthyfishstocks,excludinginvasiveexoticspeciesandmitigatingandcompensatingforhydro-graphicinterventions.Thisunderscoresoncemoretheimportanceofthepolicyintheseareas.Foranumberofelementsworkisbeingdoneonasupplementarypolicyeffort:seabedprotection,makingfishingsustainableandreducinglitterandunderwaternoise.Theexistingandsupplementarymeasuresarehelpingtobringagoodenvironmentalstatuswithinreachby2020orintheensuingperiod.

DuetothedynamicnatureoftheNorthSea,themanifoldelementsthatcollectivelydetermineitsenvironmentalstatusandthediversityofactivitiesaffectingthisstatus,itisimpossibletosaywhatexactconditiontheDutchpartoftheNorthSeawillbeinby2020.Thisisalsoduetothefactthatitisimpossibletopredicttheextenttowhichimplementingmeasureswillresultinbiodiversity,theseabedecosystemandfoodwebsrecoveringwhereithasbeenadverselyaffectedandhowswiftlyitwilldoso.Anotheruncertainfactorthatmustbetakeninto

Inthecaseofmakingusemoresustainable,variousstudiesarebeingcarriedouttoinvestigatesuchthingsas:• innovationinthefisheries(dollyrope;damageto

ropes);• angling(useoflead);• possibledesignationoftheNorthSeaasaNOxEmission

ControlArea(NECA);• underwaternoise(explosives,sonar);• platformlightingonoilandgasplatforms;• practicabilityofaquacultureandmariculture.

TheiSeaprojectisstimulatingideasforsustainableuse.

Thearea-orientedandspecies-orientedapproachisgearedtowardsstudyingtheecologicalsignificanceofartificialhardsubstrateforthemarineecosystem,recoveryofvulnerablesharksandrays,andtheporpoiseprotectionplan.ThisconstitutesanelaborationofOSPARrecommendationstoprotectthreatenedanddecliningspeciesandhabitats.

ActiveecosystemrecoveryisfocusedoncarryingoutapilotstudyontherecoveryofoysterbedsinthedeeppartoftheNorthSeaandreintroductionoftheEuropeanseasturgeon.

Knowledgedevelopment

Forthepurposesofimplementingmeasures,ensuringthemarineecosystemisfunctionalandassessingtheeffectsofhumanactivity,questionsmustbeansweredtogeneratetherequisiteknowledge.Amongstotherthings,theprocessofansweringthesequestionsmustcontributetoupdatingthenationalassessmentoftheDutchpartoftheNorthSeain2018.Logically,agreatmanyquestionscanonlybeansweredatregionalscale.TheimportanceofcooperatingonjointresearchprogrammesinthecontextofOSPARandtheEUwillincreaseoverthenextfewyears.InconnectionwithOSPAR,theNetherlandsisdoingitsbittowardsthedevelopmentandapplicationofcommonindicatorsforsuchthingsaswasteontheseabed,micro-plasticsandbackgroundnoise.Amongstotherthings,theNetherlandsiscontributingtoresearchintomethodstoenabletheexposureofmarineorganismstoimpulsenoisetobequantified.Oneimportantquestionalsopertainstothecumulativeeffectsarisingasaresultofhumankind’suseoftheNorthSea.Alsohighontheknowledgeagendaaredevelopingcriteriatoenableassessmentofnetworksofprotectedareasintermsof


considerationisthelageffectofthepresenceofanumberofsubstances,litterandmicroplasticsthathaveaccumulatedintheNorthSeaasaresultofpastactivities.Moreover,thereisagreatdealofuncertaintyandgapsinourknowledgeof,forexample,microplasticsandunderwaternoise,whichwillrequiremoredetailedstudy.

ForthetimebeingitcannotyetbeconcludedthattheprotectedareasintheDutchpartoftheNorthSea(Natura2000andMSFD)collectivelyconstitutearepresentativeandcoherentnetworkofprotectedareasinlinewiththerequirementsstemmingfromArticle13.4oftheMSFDandtheCabinet’sambition.TheNetherlandsisjoininginwithinitiativesinthecontextofOSPARandtheEUtoevaluatethecoherenceandrepresentativenessofprotectedareas.Inconnectionwiththeseinitiatives,theCabinetisdedicatedtoaregion-specificapproachtotheNorthSeainconjunctionwithneighbouringcountries.TheaimistobeabletodrawconclusionsonthiswhenupdatingtheassessmentoftheenvironmentalstatusoftheNorthSeain2018.

TheenvironmentalstatusoftheDutchpartoftheNorthSeawillbecloselymonitored.TheorganisationandworkingmethodsaresetoutinMarineStrategyPart2MonitoringProgrammeMSFD.Theapproach–directingeffortstowardsreducingthemostsignificantsourcesofadverseeffectsontheNorthSeaenvironmentincombinationwithamonitoringprogramme–presentsthepossibilityoftimelyinterventioniftheenvironmentalstatusweretodeveloptooslowlyorinthewrongdirection(the‘handonthetap’principle).ThesecondMSFDcycle,from2018onwards,presentsopportunitiestoexaminethisingreaterdetail.


theplotdecree,thesestudieswillprovideessentialinformationonwhichmarketpartiescanbasetheirtender,bywayofasubsidytender.Thepartysubmittingthebesttenderwillthenbegrantedtheexclusiverighttobuildawindfarmontheparcel.

InSeptember201479theCabinetannounceditsintentiontofulfilthetargetof3450MWwithinthewindenergyareasofBorsseleandCoastofHolland.Thesewindenergyareashavealreadybeendesignated.Creatingwindfarmsnearertothecoastischeaperthandoingsofurtherouttosea.TheCabinetwishestoaddastripofnomorethantwonauticalmiles(NM)totheCoastofHollandareawithinthe12-milezone,therebyenablingspatialandmorecost-effectiveuseofthearea.Thearea(s)withinthe12-milezonehavenotyetbeendesignatedandarebeyondthescopeofthepresentPolicyDocumentontheNorthSea.ThedesignationdecisionwillbefleshedoutinapartialrevisionoftheNationalWaterPlan2016-2021.Tothisendanenvironmentalimpactstatementwillbedrawnuplookingatalternatives.Anappropriateassessmentwillalsobeprepared.

ThePolicyDocumentontheNorthSea2016-2021reaffirmsthedesignatedwindenergyareasofBorssele,IJmuidenVer,CoastofHollandandNorthoftheWaddenIslands.Forthepurposesofdesignatingnewareasandtheactualassimilationofwindfarms,fundamentalspatialplanningprincipleshavebeenformulatedinthisPolicyDocumentontheNorthSea.Thesewillbediscussedlateroninthissection.Thedesignatedareasandpolicyintentionforthestripswithinthe12-milezonewillalsobedescribed.Inadditiontothespatialplanningpolicyforthewindenergyareasandwindfarms,newpolicywillberequiredtoconnectwindfarmstothegridsoastofulfilthetermsoftheEnergyAgreement.Thiswillbediscussedattheendofthissection.

79 Dutch Senate and Dutch House of Representatives, 2014-2015 session, 33 561, no. 11.

4.3 Wind energy

Spatialplanningtask

IntheEnergyAgreementforsustainablegrowthitwasagreedwiththepartiesinvolvedthat4450MWofoffshorewindenergywillbeoperationalby202378.Whatthismeansisthat,overandabovetheexistingwindfarmsandwindfarmsunderconstruction,3450MWofextrawindenergywillhavetobeproducedatsea.Additionalpolicyeffortsandinvestmentsarerequiredtoachievethistarget.Giventheavailablespacewithinthedesignatedareasandwindenergyareasyettobedesignated,thetaskistoidentifywindfarmsiteswhereitwillbepossibletoproduce3450MWinacost-effectivemanner,allowingfortheotherinterestsintheNorthSea.

AspartoftheEnergyAgreement,ithasbeenagreedthatthegovernmentwillensurearobuststatutoryframeworkinordertoachievetheagreedtargetforwindenergyproductionatsea.Tobeabletoimplementthisnewsystem,abillonoffshorewindenergyhasbeendevelopedinconsultationwiththewindenergysector.ThissystemmakesitpossiblefortheCentralGovernmenttotakecontrolofthespatialassimilationofwindenergyandcarefullyweighupinterestsintheNorthSea.Whenthisnewlegislationcomesintoforce,existingunusedpermitswillexpire.

Thesystemwillhelpensureefficientuseofspace,reducingcostsandacceleratingtheroll-outofwindenergyatsea.Withinadesignatedarea,thecentralgovernmentwilltakeso-calledplotdecrees,layingdownthesite-specificconditionsfortheconstructionofawindfarmonthatparcel.Whendrawingupaplotdecree,thecentralgovernmentwillalsostudythestructureoftherelevantparcelandthesoil,localwindspeedsandinformationonwaterintherelevantparcel.Togetherwith

78 At present there are two operational wind farms in the Dutch part of the North Sea: the Offshore Windpark Egmond aan Zee (OWEZ), located 6 nautical miles (NM) off the coast of Egmond aan Zee with a capacity of 108 MW, and the Prinses Amalia wind farm, situated 12 NM off the coast of IJmuiden with a capacity of 120 MW. In addition to these, two further wind farms are under construction, namely Luchterduinen in the Coast of Holland area (12 NM from the shore) with a capacity of 129 MW and the Gemini Offshore Windpark in the area North of the Wadden Islands (34 NM from the shore) with a capacity of 600 MW.


Design criterion: distance between shipping routes and wind farmsFor the purposes of reserving space, the ‘reference ship’ is important. Depending on the route, the reference ship is 300 or 400 metres long. The routes to Amsterdam, for example, have a reference ship 300 metres long.

The largest manoeuvre a ship must be able to make, and hence for which there must be sufficient space, is the so-called round turn. 6 ship lengths are required for this. An extra 0.3 NM evasive manoeuvre is necessary on the starboard side prior to a ship executing the round turn, because an initial effort will be made to avoid performing a round turn. The overall space required on the starboard side is therefore 0.3 NM + 6 ship lengths. Moreover, a safety zone of 500 metres around single

objects (wind turbines) is in force. Within this zone no passage is possible at present. The requisite safe distances for shipping are therefore:• In the case of ships 400 metres in length: 1.87 NM on the starboard

side and 1.57 NM on the port side;• In the case of ships 300 metres in length: 1.54 NM on the starboard

side and 1.24 NM on the port side.

For the clearways, the connecting routes between the formal routes, these distances have been included in the width of the clearway path. For anchorages and precautionary areas, the same safe distances can be maintained as for a traffic separation scheme.

Design process: distance between mining sites and wind farmsThe characteristics of a mining platform, the location and format of the wind farm, and the possibility of multiple use of space will vary for each site. Consequently, accessibility to helicopters will have to be assessed for each platform individually. To this end consultation will be held with the mining company concerned, with due regard for relevant aspects from the perspective of flight safety and the interests of the future wind farm operator.

The procedure leading up to the establishment of a draft plot decree for a wind farm is:• All relevant interests are considered in the draft decree.• Specifically for mining, sites are sought within the areas where the

new wind farm can be built where the spatial planning tension with mining is kept to a minimum. In addition, consideration is paid to the current status of the prospects present (as these are known to the Ministry of Economic Affairs/TNO), existing mining installations and transport pipelines in place.

• If the distance between the site of the proposed wind energy plot and the existing mining platform is less than 5 NM or if this plot encroaches upon the safety contour of a transport pipeline present, then things will be fine-tuned with the mining firm(s) concerned.

• With regard to the prospects, the location of and conditions for the proposed wind energy plot will – based on all information (confidential or otherwise) in the possession of the Ministry of Economic Affairs/TNO – be established in such a way that they will have minimal impact on future mining interests.

• Bilateral fine-tuning will be done with individual mining companies that hold a prospecting or extraction permit covering areas within 5 NM of the site for the proposed wind energy farm, in part keeping in mind any prospects present and work plans in place.

• In addition to the ‘customisation in terms of space’ described here, the options for ‘customisation in terms of time’ will also be taken into consideration for the purposes of a specific wind energy plot.

• When looking for a customised solution, efforts are geared towards jointly coming up with a safe and practicable solution for all parties. If an agreement is reached on the customised solution with the mining firm(s) concerned during the preparatory phase, the relevant provisions will be legally enshrined in, for example, the draft decree.

• If such agreement with the mining firm(s) concerned proves impossible during the preparatory phase, the Minister for Economic Affairs will, in conjunction with the Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment (jointly competent authority), establish a draft decree on the location of and conditions for the specific wind energy plot. For the purposes of this decree, consideration will be given to the interests of the wind farm site on the one hand and the consequences of this for the mining company involved on the other hand.

A number of actions have been included for the 2016-2021 planning period with regard to the distance between mining sites and wind farms and with regard to flight safety in wind farms (see section 7.2).

Ecology and AccumulationIn the ‘Ecology and Accumulation Assessment Framework’ to be finalised in 2015 the Central Government will be looking in more detail at cumulative ecological effects and mitigating measures. Relevant parties are being involved in the development of the assessment framework (including wind farm developers and nature conservation organisations).

The objective of the assessment framework is to clarify how cumulative ecological effects must be charted. This assessment framework will have to be used in future decision-making on offshore wind energy.

Based on the assessment framework, when making spatial planning decisions on such matters as the future designation of wind energy areas and plot decrees, an assessment will be made as to whether or not it is possible to rule out an offshore wind farm having undesirable ecological effects, either individually or cumulatively with other wind farms and other activities. In order to prevent any undesirable effects, rules will be incorporated into the terms and conditions applicable to the plot. In the most extreme of cases, further development of sites could be prohibited.


DefenceTheexistingmilitaryexercisezonesadjacenttothedesignatedareasbeyondthe12-milezonearebeingmaintained.Certainformsofmultipleusemaywellbepossible,butinprinciplemultipleuseinvolvingpermanentlyinstalledobjectsisexcludedonthegroundsofsafety.

Sand extractionThedesignatedwindenergyareasfalloutsideofthezoneinwhichsandextractionhaspriority.

EfficientandsafeuseoftheNorthSeainbalancewiththemarineecosystem.

Natura 2000 areas and other areas that are potentially valuable in ecological terms• Topreventanyundesirableeffects,designated

Natura2000areasareavoidedwhendesignatingwindenergyareas.

• Futurespatialplanningdecisionsforoffshorewindenergy,suchasplotdecrees,willbeassessedonthebasisoftheEcologyandAccumulationassessmentframeworkbeingdeveloped.Pointsforattentionincludethe(cumulative)effectsofwindfarmsonthelesserblack-backedgullandporpoises.

Passage and multiple useAtpresent,passagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarmsatseaarenotpermitted.Variousstakeholders,suchasthoseengagedinfishing(commercialorother-wise)andrecreationalsailing,wouldliketohavetheseareasopenedupduetotheincreasingtrafficatseaandtheshrinkageinfishingareas.Passagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarmscancontributetoefficientuseofspace,aswellaspresentingopportunitiestobolsterthesustainableuseandbiodiversityoftheNorthSea.Consequently,theintentionistoopenupoperationalwindfarmssubjecttoconditions.

Duetothesafetyrisksandthechancesofdamagetowindfarms,notallformsofpassagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarmsaredeemedsuitable.Furthermore,theeffectsonsuchthingsasSearch&Rescue(SAR),theenforceabilityandpracticalityofthisintentionwillhavetobetestedinmoredetailbeforehand.Thistestingwillbecarriedoutin2015.Ifthetestresultsdonotrevealany

Fundamentalprinciples

PrioritydevelopmentsofeconomicusesofnationalinterestoftheNetherlands.Thespatialplanningtensionbetweenvariousactivitiesinthenationalinterestisbeingkepttoaminimum.Tothisend,thefollowingpointsofdepartureapply:

Wind energyWithintheframeworksofthelegislationandregulationsstillbeingdevelopedforwindenergyatsea,thefollowingisbeingsoughtfromthepointofviewofcosts:• aspatiallyefficientlayoutforwindfarmsandlanding

points;• areaswhereacapacityof(amultipleof )700MWcanbe

achieved.ThechoicehererelatestotheselectionofTenneTasgridoperatorandtheselectionofTenneTtoconnectwindfarmstostandardisedplatformsof700MW.

ShippingThe‘Designcriterion:distancebetweenshippingroutesandwindfarms’80hasbeenfleshedoutinconjunctionwiththeshippingsector,theaimbeingtoenablecalculationofthespacevesselsrequiredbetweenshippingroutesandoffshorewindfarmsinordertobeabletosailsafelyandfluently.IthasbeenappliedtothewindenergyareasCoastofHollandandNorthoftheWaddenIslands.ThedesigncriterionhasnotbeenappliedtothewindenergyareasBorsseleandIJmuidenVer,designatedin2009.Inthisregardaprovisionaldistanceof2NMappliesfortheshippingroute.

Oil and gas extraction and CO2 storageForminingplatformswithahelipad,thestartingpointisanobstacle-freezoneof5NMroundtheseplatformssoastoguaranteesafehelicoptertraffictoandfromtheseplatformsinallweatherconditions.Inspecificsituations,thepossibilityofacustomisedsolutioncanbelookedinto.Thiswouldbeappropriatewhere,toensurecost-effectiveroll-outofoffshorewindfarms,considerationisbeinggiventositingawindfarmpartiallyorentirelywithinaplatform’s5NMzone.Furthermore,whenitcomestoplanningnewwindfarms,subterraneanoilandgasreservesmustbetakenintoconsideration–theso-calledprospects.Inconsultationwiththeminingsector,adesignprocesshasbeendrawnupwhichneedstobeworkedthroughwhenproducingadraftplotdecree.

80 Previously entitled ‘Assessment framework: distance between shipping routes and wind farms’.


Figure 4.2 Wind energy

A= IJmuiden Ver B= Borssele C= Coast of Holland D= To the north of the Frisian Islands

round-2 wind energy permits



oil and gas platforms with helicopter zone of 5 NM

former ammunition dump area

0 100 km

0 50 NMN







freshwater




surface:


dunes

A

B

C

CC

C

C

D

C


Other aspects• Whereverpossible,considerationwillbegivento

preservationoffishinggroundswhenmakingdecisionsonconcretewindfarms.

• Arelativelylargenumberofcablesandpipelinesrunthroughaproportionoftheareasalreadydesignated,asaresultofwhichnotallthesurfaceareaisavailableforwindfarmsiting.Withaviewtoensuringefficientuseofspace,theconditionssubjecttowhichitwillbepossibletoscaledownthemaintenancezoneswillbelookedatinconsultationwiththepartiesinvolved.

• InthecaseofseabedinterventionsintheExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ),considerationwillhavetobegiventotheobligationtopreservearchaeologicalandculturalheritage(orinformationthereon)inaccordancewiththeMaltaConvention,whichhasbeenenshrinedinDutchlegislation.

Windenergyareasandpolicycommitments

ThedesignatedwindenergyareasareBorssele,IJmuidenVer,CoastofHollandandNorthoftheWaddenIslands.Theoverallsurfaceareaoftheareasalreadydesignatedisaround2900km2.Assuminganaverage6MWperkm2,thiscomestoapotentialwindenergycapacityofsome17400MW.Itisimportanttonoteherethatthisisthegrosssurfacearea.Inallareastherearestillissuessurroundingharmonisationwithotherdesignatedusesandthemarineecosystem.

Inordertobeabletoachieve1400or700MWintheCoastofHollandarea,theCabinetwouldliketoaddastripofnomorethantwoNMwithinthe12-milezone.TheseareasareadjacenttotheCoastofHollandareaalreadydesignatedoutsideofthe12-milezone.Thedecisiontodesignateextrawindenergyareaswithinthe12-milezonewillbeelaboratedonintheformofapartialrevisiontotheNationalWaterPlan2016-2021,includingthedrawingupofanenvironmentalimpactstatementlookingatalternativesandanappropriateassessment.

insurmountabledifficultiesforSearchandRescueandenforcement,thenthedecisionstocreatesafetyzonesaroundwindfarmswillbefocusedonenablingpassagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarms,subjecttoconditions.Thisalsoholdsforexistingwindfarmsandaccompanyingsafetyzones.

Basedonthetestresults,adefinitivedecisionwillbemadeattheendof2015onwhetherornotpassagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarmswillbepermitted.Ifpassagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarmsispermitted,thenthefollowingconditionswillbeconsidered:• Passagewillbemadepossibleforvesselswithalength

uptoandincluding24metres,subjecttoconditionsthatwillhavetobeenforceableandwhichmustnotresultinanunacceptabledegreeofimpedimenttoSARactivities.

• Multipleusewillbemadepossibleforrecreationalpurposesandactivitiesthatdonotdisturbtheseabed,aswellasforaquacultureandotherformsofsustainablegenerationofenergy.Furthermore,theweighingupofinterestswillbedonewithinthescopeofcreatingthesafetyzonearoundthewindfarmor–insofarasitpertainstoformsofusethatinvolvefixedstructures–permitissuance.

• Forthepurposesofactivitiesgearedtowardsinnovation,notallformsofpassagethroughandmultipleuseofwindfarmscanbeallowed.Foreachindividualinitiative,anassessmentwillbemadeoftherisksintermsofpossiblehindranceanddamagetothewindfarmandintermsofenforceability.

PerceptionThedesiretoensurethattheviewofthehorizonremainsunobstructedmeansthattodatenowindenergyareashavebeendesignatedwithinthe12-milezone.Inageneralsense,itmeansthatpermanentlyvisiblestructuresassociatedwithactivitiesinthenationalinterestarepermissiblewithinthe12-milezoneiftherearenoreasonablealternativesitesfortheseandnosignificanteffectsareproducedtothedetrimentofcoastalprotection.Insuchcases,adverseeffectsontheviewofthehorizon,recreationalactivitiesandfishingshouldbekepttoaminimum.


Thefollowingpointsforattentionapplywhenfleshingoutthepolicyintention:• The‘designcriterionfordistancebetweenshipping

routesandwindfarms’willbeappliedtotheapproachareatoIJmuiden.Inthisregard,considerationwillbegiventoapossiblenewanchoragebetweentheIJChannelandthewindenergyarea.

• Thestripspartlyoverlapwiththezoneinwhichsandextractionhaspriority.Theeffectswillbestudiedinconnectionwiththepartialrevision.

• Thestripbetween10and12NMintheareaofNoord-Hollandpartlyoverlapswiththemilitarytrainingareaandwillonlybefeasibleifthemilitarytrainingareaisrotatedsomewhat.Thiswillbelookedatinmoredetailinconnectionwiththepartialrevision.

• Clusteringthestripswiththeareasbeyondthe12-milezonewillminimisetheeffectsontheviewofthehorizonandpreservetheviewofthehorizonintherestofthe12-milezone.Theeffectsofthepossiblebuildingofwindfarmsinthestripbetween10and12NMonviewandperceptionwillbestudiedinconnectionwiththepartialrevision.

Connectingwindfarmstothenationalgrid

Inthecaseofexistingwindfarmsandwindfarmsunderconstruction,thewindfarmoperatorisresponsiblefortheconnectiontothenationalgrid.Withintheframe-workoftheEnergyAgreement,ithasbeenagreedthatagridwillbecreatedatseawhereverthisismoreefficientthanconnectingwindfarmsdirectlytothenationalhigh-voltagegridandthatgridoperatorTenneTwillbeassignedresponsibilityforthis.TheCabinet’sdecisionon18June201481toappointTenneTasgridoperatortoconstructtherequisiteinfrastructureatseaconstitutesfulfilmentofthisagreement.Thisputsthegridinpublichands.Thesameprincipleappliestothegridatseaastothegridonland,namelythatitisextremelyimportanttohaveareliable,affordableandrenewableenergysupply.


TheCabinetisfleshingoutthetaskforTenneTasgridoperatoratseainthelegislativeagendaSTROOM,theannouncedrevisionoftheElectricityAct1998andtheGasAct.

Thestartingpointfortheroadmapfortheroll-outofoffshorewindenergyisthatTenneTwillcreatetheconnectionbysitingfivestandardisedplatformsof700MW,whichwillbeconnectedtothenationalhigh-voltagegridusingtwo220kVcables.Thewindfarm’sturbineswillbeconnectedtotheplatformdirectly.TenneTwillexpandonthiswithinthecompassoftheoffshoregriddevelopmentplan.

Theintendedgrowthofthewindenergygenerationcapacitywillmakedemandsonthegridonland.TheimplementationofmajorwindenergyprojectsmightcompelTenneTtoreinforcethenationalmaintrans-missiongrid(>110kV).Theambitiouslygeneratedwindenergycapacityshouldultimatelybeassimilatedintothenationalhigh-voltagegrid.TheareasofBorsseleandCoastofHollandwillbeconnectedtothenationalhigh-voltagegridatBorssele,WateringenandBeverwijk.Separatespatialplanningprocedureswillbefollowedtothisend.

Thepolicysetoutinsections3.7and4.4appliestothemarinecableroutes.Inaddition,theassessmentframe-workforactivitiesintheNorthSeaappliestotheprocedureforthecableroutes(section5).


Adefinitiveevaluationwillbedrawnuponcetheseabedcreatureshavefinishedrecovering.Thisevaluationhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).Diggingthroughshallowlayersofclayandpeatistobeavoidedasthiscanstirupsedimentand/orsilt.Forthatreasonthemaximumdepthofsandextractionisrestrictedtoonemetreabovetheselayers.

Inprinciple,deepextractionofconcreteandmasonrysandandfillsandispermitted.Withaviewtopossiblefutureuse,anareahasbeenreservedoffthecoastofZuid-HollandandZeelandforthepurposesofextractingcoarsesandforconcreteandmasonrysandproduction.Theprincipleofeconomicalandhigh-qualityuseofsurfacemineralsremainsunimpaired.Consequently,thiscoarsesandthathasbeenreservedwillnotbeusedforfillingorreplenishment.Inordertoutiliseanareaefficiently,thecompetentauthoritywillissueapermittoseveralinitiatorsforthesameextractionarea,ifpossible.Anenvironmentalimpactstatementismandatoryinthecaseofpermitsissuedforsandextractionexceedingavolumeof10millionm3oranareaof500ha.

SandextractioninrelationtootherdesignatedusesSandextractioncombineswellwithseveralotherdesignateduses,suchasshippingandfishing.Notsurprisingly,thefundamentalprincipleisthatthesandextractionzoneisaccessibleforotherdesignatedusesontheprovisothattheydonotimpedethesandextractionactivitieseithernoworinthefuture.Inthisregard,thefuturerequirementforsandfromthiszoneshouldbetakenintoaccount.

Nosandmaybeextractedwithinaradiusofatleast500metresofcablesandpipelines.

Ifpartiesengagedinotheractivitiesofnationalinterest,suchasoilandgasextractionandwindenergy,wishtousetheareareservedforsandextraction,thenasolutiontailoredtothespecificsituationwillbesought.

Sandextractionisregardedasanactivityinthenationalinterest.Thepolicyisgearedtowardsreservingsufficientsandreservesatseafortheshortandlongtermforreplenishmentandfillingpurposesatattractiveandreasonablecosts.Asandextractionstrategywithincreasedspatialmanage-menthasbeendevelopedinordertoachievethispolicytarget.Startingpointsare:ecologicallyresponsible,cost-effective,sustainablesandextractionthatissmartinrelationtosupplyandproperlyadaptedinspatialplanningterms.

ThezonebetweenthecontinuousNAP-20misobathandthe12-mileboundaryisregardedasareserveareaforsandextractionforthepurposesofcoastalreplenishmentandfloodprotectionaswellasforsandextractionforfillingpurposesandconcreteandmasonrysandforconstructionandinfrastructure.

Priorityisbeinggiventotherequisitedemandforsandforthecomingyearsandthesandextractionareasthatwillbeneededtothisend,withsandsuitable82forreplenish-mentanduseinconstructionandinfrastructure,atthelowestpossiblecostsofextraction.Thiszonewillamplymeetthedemandforsandoverthecomingdecades.Forthatreason,otheractivitiesinthenationalinterestwillbegivenpriorityoversandextractionintheeventofstackingofactivitiesinthenationalinterestoutsidethe12-milezone.

MethodofextractionInprinciple,deepersandextractionisassumedthanthepreviouslycustomarytwometrestolimitthepossibleeffectsofsandextractiononseabedcreaturesandfisheriesandtoguaranteetheavailabilityofsandextractiontothefullestextentpossiblewithinthe12-milezone.DeepsandextractionispermittedfromtwokilometresseawardofthecontinuousNAP-20misobath.Moreresearchintotheeffectsofgreaterdepthofextractionisrequired,particularlyinrelationtotherelevantarea’sspeedofrecolonisation.AmonitoringprogrammeonrecolonisationwillbecarriedoutintheextractionareaforMaasvlakte2duringthenextfewyears.

82 The suitability of the sand is partly dependent on its intended use, such as replenishment (foreshore, beach) or filling.

4.4 Sand extraction strategy


Figure 4.3 Sand extraction strategy

shell extraction reserve area

permit issued for sand extraction ( and replenishment)

sand extraction reserve area

unloading-quay allocation

concrete and masonry sand reserve area

sand layer thickness 0-2 metres



0 100 km

0 50 NMN







freshwater



surface:


dunes


Inthecaseofcablesandpipelines,includinginter-connectorandtelecommunicationscables,thefollowingwillbeexaminedinsuccession:1)whetherarouteispossiblewiththenewcablesandpipelinesbeingbundledwithexistingcablesandpipelines;and2)whetherarouteispossiblewithoutappreciablyaffectingthesupplyofextractablesand.Thesepreferredroutesareshownontheframeworkvisionmapandarebasedon:• locationoflesssuitablesandextractionzones

(thinpackage,seefigure4.3);• existingbundlingofcablesandpipelines,enabling

maintenancezonetobelimited;• landingpointsforgas,oilandelectricity;• locationofsandextractionsitesthathavealreadybeen

depleted.

Ifuseofapreferredrouteisimpossibleforeconomicorenvironmentalreasons,orifnoroutehasbeendesignatedinanarea,thencustomisedworkwillbenecessary.Inexceptionalcasesitmaybepossibletoextractsandinthisareapriortoitbeingusedforcablesorpipelines.Ifthisisnotpossibleandthenewroutewillforcethesandextractionactivitiesouttoanothersiteentailingextracosts,theinitiatorwillhavetocompensatetheseextracosts.

NoextractionispermittedlandwardofthecontinuousNAP-20misobath.Exceptionstothisruleareextractionfromfairways,theconstructionoftrans-shipmentdepots,extractionactivitieswhereremovalofsurfacemineralsfromtheextractionsiteistothebenefitofcoastalprotection,andrestoringtheseabedofformerdumpinggroundstotheiroriginalcondition.


5


Assessment framework

5.1 Introduction

TheCentralGovernmentsetsframeworkstoenableuseofspaceintheNorthSeatoevolveefficiently,safelyandsustainably.Multipleuseofspaceisanimportantfundamentalprincipleinthisregard,presentingequalopportunitiesforallformsofuseoftheNorthSea.TheassessmentframeworkisthemechanismutilisedbytheCentralGovernmenttoassessthepermissibilityofactivitiesatsea.Activitiesareprojectsforwhichapermitisrequired.Collectionsofsuchactivitiesarenameddesignateduses.Thepolicypertainingtothedesignateduseswasdescribedinsections3and4.AlsomentionedareseveralactivitiesinthenationalinteresttowhichtheCabinethasgivenpriority.Theassessmentframeworktiestogetherrelevantpolicyandsetsouthow,withinEuropeanandinternationalframeworks,newactivitiesareweighedup.Italsoprovidesanindicationofwhattodoifvariousactivitiesinthenationalinterestconflictwitheachother.

ThespatialplanningrepercussionswithregardtoactivitiesinthenationalinterestareshownontheframeworkvisionmapfortheNorthSea.Theseandotherfundamentalprinciplesandthescopeoftheassessmentframeworkaredescribedinsection5.2.Theassessmentframeworkcomprisesfivesteps,workingfrombroadtofineandcompletedsequentially,thoughtheyarenotnecessarilyallapplicable.


Scope

TheassessmentframeworkforactivitiesintheNorthSeaappliestoallactivitiesforwhichapermitisrequiredunderthelawsandregulationsapplicabletotheNorthSeainterritorialwatersandtheEEZinsofarasthispertainstoaspectsaffectingtheNorthSea’swatersystem.TheassessmentframeworkfortheNatureConservancyActhasbeenintegratedintothistothefullestextentpossible.Activitiesforwhichapermitisrequiredarealsotakentoincludeexistingusageforwhichapermitisbeingextendedorincreasedinscope.

Inthecaseofusesforwhichapermitisnotrequired(shipping,aproportionofmilitaryuse,andrecreation),theaspectsoftheframeworkofassessmentwillonlybecomerelevantwhenpolicyisrevisedornewpolicyisintroduced.

AnotherexceptionconcernsfishingactivitiesintheEEZ.TheEuropeanUnion’sCommonFisheriesPolicyregulatesthis.

Whenassessingthepermissibilityofaneconomicactivity,asetprocedureisfollowed.Thefollowingaspectsaretakenintoconsideration:thespatialplanningaspects,safety,andtheeffectsinecologicalandenvironmentalterms.Thismayresultinconditionsandrestrictionsbeingappliedtoapermit.Whenworkingthroughtheassessmentframework,anotherfactorsubjecttoscrutinyiswhetherornottheactivitywillfulfiltheobjectiveoftheMSFD,namelytoachieveormaintainagoodenviron-mentalstatusby2020.Importantinthisrespectaretheprecautionaryprincipleandtheuseoftheecosystemapproach.

5.2 Scope and fundamental principles

of the assessment framework

Statusandapplicationoftheassessmentframework

Theassessmentframeworkisapolicyregulationandobligesthecompetentauthoritytoactinaccordancewiththisframeworkwhenissuingpermits.Assuch,theassessmentframeworkischieflyofimportancetopermitauthoritiesandusersoftheNorthSeawishingtoapplyforapermitunderthe83WaterAct,EarthRemovalAct,NatureConservancyAct,FloraandFaunaAct,EnvironmentalLicensing(GeneralProvisions)Act,severalshippinglaws84andtheMiningAct85.Thepolicyregulationisappliedbythecompetentauthorities,viz.Rijkswaterstaat(onbehalfoftheMinisterforInfrastructureandtheEnvironment)andtheMinisterforEconomicAffairs86.Theassessmentframeworkasdescribedherewillsupersedetheassess-mentframeworkoftherevisedIntegratedManagementPlanfortheNorthSea(IBN)2015.

RelationshipwithNatureConservancyActandFloraandFaunaActAsstated,theassessmentframeworkalsoappliestoactivitiesthat,undertheNatureConservancyActandFloraandFaunaAct,requireapermitorexemptionrespectively.Thisisthecasewhere:• activitiesmayhavesignificantadverseeffectsona

Natura2000area;or• activitiesmayhaveeffects(disturbing,catching,killing)

onprotectednativespeciesofplantoranimal;or• activitieswilldamage,destroyordisturbbreeding

grounds,restingsitesorsitesinhabitedbythesespecies.

83 For further information on the national statutory frameworks see www.noordzeeloket.nl under spatial management, policies and regulations, laws.

84 Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act, Shipping Traffic Act, Territorial Seas Shipping Regulations.

85 Insofar as this pertains to the aspects affecting the North Sea water system.

86 Matrix of competent authority (relevant law, service point and competent authority for each designated use) at www.noordzeeloket.nl under spatial management, permits.


Fundamentalprinciples

• General:WithintheEuropeanandinternationalframeworks(WaterFrameworkDirective,MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective,theBirdsandHabitatsDirectivesandtheMaltaConvention),theCabinetisgivingprioritytoactivitiesinthenationalinterest:shipping,oilandgasextraction,CO2storage,genera-tionofsustainable(wind)energy,sandextractionandreplenishment,anddefence.Multipleuseofspaceisencouragedtothefullestextentpossible.

• Roomforexperimentation:TheCentralGovernmentcandesignateanareaand,ifpossible,temporarilydeviatefromthisassessmentframeworkforexperi-mentsaimedatbolsteringthesustainabledevelopmentoftheNorthSeainthelongerterm.Thepermitauthoritywillsetconditionsand/orrestrictionstoensurethattheexperimentdoesnotendangerthesafetyofotherexistinguses.Adverseeffectsonotherformsofusemustbekeptwithinreasonablelimits.87

87 The precautionary principle remains in force. The tests ‘choose location & assess requisite space/time’ (step 2), ‘utility & necessity’ (step 3) and ‘compensate for effects’ (step 5) lapse.

ActivitiesdonotrequireapermitundertheNatureConservancyActifapermitisissuedorwillbeissuedunderotherlawsandwithdueregardforArticle6,paragraphs3and4ofCouncilDirective92/43/EEC(thisonlyappliestoactivitiesintheEEZ)ortheactivitiesengagedinwithintheNatura2000areahavealreadybeenassessedandenshrinedinthemanagementplanfortherelevantarea.

Ifitisimpossibletoruleoutthepossibilityofaplanorprojecthavingsignificanteffects,thentheNatureConservancyActrequiresaso-calledADCtesttobecarriedout.Thistestmakesitpossibletograntpermissionforplansorprojectsthat,intheabsenceofalternativesolutions,dohavetobeimplementedforpressingreasonsofoverridingpublicinterest.Insuchcases,permissionisgrantedontheprovisothattheinitiatortakesallnecessarycompensatorymeasurestoguaranteethattheoverallconsistencyofNatura2000continuestobepreserved.


Step 1 Defining spatial claim & applying precautionary principle

• Spatial claim• Ecosystem approach and precautionary principle• Effects of existing and new activities

Step 2 Choosing location & assessing requisite space/time

• Amenity value• Multiple use of space• Harmonisation of activities in the national interest• Alternatives• Conservation of items of archaeological and cultural-historical value• Term of permit• Removal of objects

Step 3 Utility & necessity

• Demonstrate national interest• Substantiation, if need be a social cost-benefit analysis• Major, pressing reasons in the public interest under Nature Conservancy Act

Step 4 Mitigation

• Mitigating measures in mitigation plan under Nature Conservancy Act

Step 5 Compensating for effects

• Compensation tasking in compensation plan for Natura 2000 areas under Nature Conservancy Act

If significant effects, step 3 follows. If not decision on permit positive (including preconditions) or negative.

If activity is permissible, step 4 follows.

In case mitigation plan is sufficiently underpinned, step 5 follows.

Figure 5.1 The five steps comprising the assessment framework


Foreachinitiativethereisasingleservicepointwherethecompetentauthority,inconjunctionwiththeinitiator,looksatwhetherornotitwillbepossibletoofferthespacewithintheboundsoftheNorthSeapolicy.Theformalprocessstartsoncetheformalpermitapplicationhasbeensubmitted.Theformaltestcriteriaforpermitissuancearesetoutbelow.

EcosystemapproachandprecautionaryprincipleToensuresustainabledevelopmentandsustainableuseoftheNorthSea,theecosystemapproachisadopted,inwhichthefocusisnotmerelyoneffectsonindividualspeciesbutratheroneffectsonthefullcontextofbiologicalcommunitiesandtheirhabitats.Existinglawsandregulationsprovidefortheecosystemapproachbymeansofsuchthingsasatestoftheeffectsonnatureandtheenvironmentandapplicationoftheprecautionaryprinciple.Thisprinciplehashadaplaceininternationalandnationalpolicyforyearsnow(OSPAR,NWP,MSFDandNatura2000).Itisacrucialpointofdeparturewhenitcomestodevelopingandplanningactivitiesatsea.Theprincipleentailsauserhavingtotakepreventivemeasuresiftherearereasonablegroundsforconcernthattheactivitycouldcausepotentialirreparabledamagetothemarineenvironment,humanhealthand/orotherlawfuluse.Adequateproofofacausativerelationshipbetweenactivityandconsequencesisrequired.Thepreventivemeasuresmustprecludeundesirable,long-term,irreversibleeffectsbeingcausedbyactivities,orminimisesucheffectswheretheycannotbeprevented.Examplesofpreventivemeasuresare:temporalzoning,usingcleantechnologies,introducingcheckingsystemsandmanagingflowsofsubstances/materials/waste.

EffectsofexistingandnewactivitiesThewayinwhichtheprecautionaryprincipleisapplieddependsonwhethertheactivityrelatestoanexistingornewdesignateduse.Afterall,policyandregulationsarealreadyinforceforexistinguse,whereastherearemorequestionsanduncertaintiessurroundingnewuse.Ifanenvironmentalimpactstatementismandatoryfornewactivities,thentheenvironmentalimpactstatementwillprovidesufficientinsightintotheeffectstoenable

Figure5.1presentsthefivestepscomprisingtheassess-mentframework.Itmakesclearthattheassessmentsareworkedthroughsuccessively,butnotnecessarilyallofthemareperformed.Anexplanationoftheassessmentsisprovidedinsubsequentsections.

Step1:Definingspatialclaim&applyingprecautionaryprinciple

Defining the spatial claim is actually not a real test; rather, it provides a description of the relevant activity. This information is needed for the other tests. Following and in consultation with the competent authority, the initiator adheres to a set format for the description, with the following sections being included as a minimum: nature and purpose of the activity, start and duration, requisite space and intended location, the potential effects, and one or more alternatives. The initiator particularly has to go into more detail on spatial claim and potential effects, where necessary substantiating statements by means of research results.

CalculatingspatialclaimPreliminarydiscussionsofaninformalnaturewiththecompetentauthoritymayberegardedasthestartofaprocessgearedtowardsoptimumassimilation,involvingotherinterestedpartiestoo,ifneedbe.Thefundamentalprincipleforthecompetentauthorityistoencourageandenablenewactivitiesatseawithinthesetframeworksbyadoptingadevelopment-orientedapproachinwhichdesignatedusesareharmonisedwithoneanotherinasustainable,integratedmanner.

Thesepreliminarydiscussionsputtheinitiatorinapositiontotakeintoconsiderationallspatialinterestsintheplanningareainadvance.Itisanticipatedthatthiswillresultinalowerincidenceoflegalproceedingsonceformalpermitapplicationshavebeensubmitted.Furthermore,thepreliminarydiscussionswillalsoenabletheinitiatortoacquaintthemselveswiththeformaltestcriteriaandprocedureforpermitissuanceatanearlystage.

5.3 The five steps comprising the assessment

framework


theactivitiestobetestedagainsttheprecautionaryprinciple.Inthecaseofactivitiesforwhichanenviron-mentalimpactstatementisnotmandatory,thecompetentauthoritywillapplytheprecautionaryprincipleonthebasisofexistingpolicy,existingregulationsandcommonpractice.Iftherearenonewinsightsregardingecologicaleffectsoreffectsonhumanhealthoronotherlawfuluse,thenthisfactwillbesufficientforthepurposesoftheprecautionaryprinciple.Ifnewinsightsdoprovidegroundsfordoingso,thecompetentauthoritywillaskthepermitapplicanttosupplyfurtherinformationonthepossibleeffectsand,ifneedbe,totakepreventivemeasures.

Inadditiontothebasicinformationforthespatialclaim,theinformationsuppliedbytheapplicantmustcontainthefollowingelements:• adescriptionofthenaturalvaluesinthearea

(proceedingfromtheecosystemapproach)andthesitingoftheactivity;

• adescriptionoftheeffectsthattheactivitycouldhavebyitselfandincombinationwithotheractivities;

• anassessmentofthepotentialeffectsbasedonthebestavailableknowledge.

Ifsufficientknowledgeoftheconsequencesofanactivityislacking,thenthisshouldnotconstitutegroundstopermitthatactivitytoproceed.Insuchcasesthepermitauthoritycoulddecide:• nottopermittheactivity;• topermittheactivity,butontheprovisothatthe

initiatorminimisesand/orcompensatesfortheeffects;• tohavefurtherresearch(e.g.monitoring)carriedout

andtoissuethepermitforasetterm(durationoftheresearch);

• toimposeotherrestrictions,suchas(forexample)the‘handonthetap’principle,inwhichtheactivityispermitteduntilacertainnormisexceeded.

Measurestolimiteffectsmustbeestablishedatthetimeofthedecisionbeingmadeonpermitissuance.

If,whenassessingapermitapplication(includingenvironmentalimpactstatementifrelevant),sufficientassuranceisobtainedthatthereisnoriskofsignificantadverseeffects,theremainderoftheassessmentframe-workwillnothavetobecompleted,withtheexceptionofthetestofchoiceoflocation(test2).

Step2:Choosinglocation&assessingrequisitespace/time

For each permit application the competent authority assesses whether the initiator’s spatial claim is realistic or whether a more efficient spatial integration is possible based on the aspects fleshed out below.

Visible,permanentworks(takentomeanstructuresinstalledfor6monthsorlonger)withinthe12-milezonearenotpermitted.Exceptionstothisrulearepermanentworksassociatedwithactivitiesinthenationalinterest.Thesearepermissiblewithinthe12-milezoneiftherearenoreasonablealternativesitesfortheseandnosignificanteffectsareproducedtothedetrimentofcoastprotection.Insuchcases,adverseeffectsontheviewofthehorizon,recreationalactivitiesandfishingshouldbekepttoaminimum.Forthepolicywithregardtowindenergywithinthe12-milezone,seesection4.3.

MultipleuseofspacewherepossibleIInareasdesignatedforactivitiesinthenationalinterest(seeframeworkvisionmap),otheractivitiesarenotallowedtohinderthisuse.Hereitshouldbenotedthatapermit-holdermayindeedhaveanexclusiverighttoutilise,orprospectin,therelevantmarineareaforthepurposesoftheactivityforwhichthepermitwasissued,butthisdoesnotconferuponthemanexclusiverighttoallusesoftherelevantarea.Inprinciplethereisspaceformultipleuse,ontheprovisothatthepermit-holderconcerneddoesnotexperienceanyunreasonableadverseeffectsorimpedimentasaresult.Whenitcomestotheconditionssubjecttowhichotherinitiativesarepossibleinthesamearea,thecompetentauthority’sconsiderationsanddecisionarefinal.Ifauserclaimstobeexperiencingadverseeffectsarisingfromanotherlawfulformofuse,theywillbeentitledtosubmitanappealtothecompetentauthoritytohavethesecompensated.Thissolelyrelatestolossessustainedbyindividualusersthattheycannotreasonablybeexpectedtobearthemselvesandwhichextendbeyondthenormalsocialrisk.IfthepermitauthorityistheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironment,thenthecompensationschemeprovidedbytheWaterActcanbeused.ThePolicyRegulationonCompensationforLossInfrastructureandtheEnvironment2014providesforthis.


TermofpermitApermitisalwaysissuedforasetterm.Activitiesatseaareusuallyofatemporarynature,duetosuchfactorsastheconsiderabledynamicsofthesea.Whetherornotconsiderationsregardinguseofspacestillcorrespondtotheactualsituationissomethingthatwillbereviewedregularly.Thisalsopreventsspacefromcontinuingtobeallocatedforapurposewheninfactitisnotactuallybeingusedforthatpurpose.Thecompetentauthoritywillissuepermitsforasetterm;sometimesthisismandatedbylaw.Temporalphasingpresentsopportunitiestocombineseveralactivitiesinacertainarea.

RemovalofobjectsThefundamentalprincipleisthatobjectsberemovedonceapermithasreachedtheendofitstermduetoenvironmentalprotectionmeasuresprohibitingdumping.Thisremovalobligationensuresthatmorespaceisfreedup.Thecompetentauthoritycommunicatestheremovalobligationtotheinitiatorpriortoissuingthepermitandlaysdownspecificdetailsregardingtheremovalobliga-tioninthepermit.Thecompetentauthoritymayevendemandfinancialsecurityforthecostsofremoval.

• Platforms for oil and gas extraction:TheremovalofinstallationsnolongerinuseisprovidedforinSection44(1)oftheMiningAct.TheMinisterforEconomicAffairscanlimitthisobligationtoacertaindepthbelowthebottomofthesurfacewater.Insuchcases,removaltothesamedepthasthepits(sixmetresundertheseabed)isthemostobvious.

• Wind turbine farms:Atermof20yearsappliestopermitscurrentlybeingissuedforwindfarmoperations.Thistermisbasedonthelifespanoftheturbines.Thetermcanbeextended.Tobecertainthatitwillbepossibletoremovetheturbinesafterthepermithasexpired,abankguaranteeforthecostsofremovalisamandatoryconditionforpermitissuance.

• Cables and pipelines: - Inprinciple,cablesnolongerinusemustbe

removed.Thispolicyisimplementedbywayofpermit requirementsundertheWaterAct.Anassessmentis madeonacase-by-casebasisoftheactualeffectson theenvironment,safetyanduseofspaceaswellas thecostsassociatedwithremoval.Thisisdonebased onthe‘cablesandpipelinesremovalobligation checklist’.88Cablesfortransmissionofelectricity fromwindfarmsaresubjecttothesameremoval

88 See Annex 1.

CoordinationofactivitiesinthenationalinterestWhereactivitiesinthenationalinterestarestackedinthesamearea,thefundamentalprinciplewillonceagainbetostrivetowardscombined,efficientuseofspace.However,severalspecificpreconditionsapplyinthisregard(seetable5.1).

AlternativesWhenconsideringecologicalorspatialplanningaspects,thecompetentauthoritymayalsowishtoincludeproposalsforalternativesitesand,inthecaseofactivitiesrequiringanenvironmentalimpactstatement,asktheinitiatortocarryout–additional–researchinrelationtoboththepreferredandalternativelocations,particularlywithaviewtopreventingpossiblesignificantecologicaleffects.

Itemsofarchaeologicalandcultural-historicalvalueTheNorthSeaisauniquearchaeologicalresource,containinghistoricshipwrecks,submergedprehistoriclandscapesandothersitesofarchaeologicalinterest.WhenperformingseabedinterventionsontheDutchcontinentalshelf,considerationmustbegiventotheobligationtoconserveitemsofarchaeologicalandcultural-historicalvalue(orinformationthereon)inlinewiththeMaltaConvention.ThisConventionhasbeenimplementedbywayoftheArchaeologicalHeritageManagementAct(Wetopdearcheologischemonumenten-zorg,2006)insuchlegislationastheMonumentsandHistoricBuildingsAct1988,theEarthRemovalActandtheEnvironmentalManagementAct,whilealsopermeatingotherlegislation,suchastheWaterActandthebillonoffshorewindenergy.Itemsofarchaeologicalandcultural-historicalvaluearetakenintoconsiderationduringtheproceduresforpermitissuanceandenviron-mentalimpactstatements.Whensubmittingapermitapplication,theinitiatorisrequiredtosupplyareportthat,intheopinionofthecompetentauthority,satis-factorilyspecifiestheitemsofarchaeologicalvalueinthearea.If,onthebasisoftheaforementionedreport,itisconcludedthattheconstructionworkcouldadverselyimpactonitemsofarchaeologicalvalue,thenthecompetentauthoritycouldattachfurtherconditionstoapermit,suchasanobligationtotaketechnicalmeasures,anobligationtocarryoutexcavationsortohavetheactivitiessupervisedbyanexpertinthefieldofmaritimearchaeologicalheritage.

Table 5.1 Coordination of activities in the national interest

Activityofnationalinterest Precondition

Shipping In traffic separation schemes, deep-water routes, anchorages, precautionary areas and clearways, shipping has priority over other forms of use.

For safety reasons, mining installations and other permanent individual structures are not permitted within shipping routes or within a 500-metre radius of these shipping routes.

Oilandgasextraction The greatest possible use is made of the potential presented by oil and gas supplies, including the ‘small fields’.

Shipping or other forms of use are not permitted within a 500-metre safety zone around the mining platform.

For mining platforms with a helipad, the starting point is an obstacle-free zone of 5 NM round the platform so as to guarantee safe helicopter traffic to and from the platform in all weather conditions. In specific situations, the possibility of a customised solution may be looked into by applying the design process: distance between mining sites and wind farms (see section 4.3).

In principle, new pipelines should use preferred routes when transecting the sand extraction zone (see section 4.4).

CO2storage The greatest possible use is made of depleted oil and gas fields and of aquifers (suitable for CO2 storage).

Shipping or other forms of use are not permitted within a 500-metre safety zone around a platform equipped for CO2 storage.

In principle, new pipelines should use preferred routes when transecting the sand extraction zone (see section 4.4).

Generatingrenewable(wind)energy

The use of the North Sea for generating renewable (wind) energy takes precedence over other forms of use.

In the designated wind energy areas efforts are made to harmonise things in timely fashion between the use (or future use) of the area for the purposes of wind energy on the one hand and oil and gas extraction (or future oil and gas extraction) on the other. Harmonisation between wind energy and oil and gas extraction is customised work. A multiple use harmonisation clause has already been incorporated into the round 2 permits for wind farms.

When allocating plots (round 3) the design process: distance between mining sites and wind farms applies (see section 4.3). Coordination with the fellow user could result in the wind farm’s layout being changed.

Shipping is not permitted in a wind farm nor within a 500-metre safety zone round the wind farm. The intention is to open up operational wind farms subject to conditions (see section 4.3).

When designating wind energy areas the design criterion: distance between shipping routes and wind farms applies (see section 4.3).

For the distance required between cables and offshore wind farms for safety and maintenance, a maintenance zone of 500 metres is required for electricity cables and 750 metres for telecommunications cables.

In principle, new cables should use preferred routes when transecting the sand extraction zone (see section 4.4).

Sandextraction Sand extraction for the purposes of coastal defences and filling is given priority within the reservation zone between the continuous NAP -20 m isobath and the boundary of the 12-mile zone.

In principle, new cables and pipelines should use preferred routes when transecting the sand extraction zone (see section 4.4).

In the case of ‘stacking’ beyond the 12-mile zone, other activities in the national interest take precedence over sand extraction.

No sand extraction is permitted landward of the continuous NAP -20m isobath. In principle, exceptions to this rule are extraction from fairways, the construction of trans-shipment depots, extraction activities where removal of surface minerals from the extraction site is to the benefit of coastal protection, and restoring the seabed of former dumping grounds to their original condition.

Defence Multiple use is permitted in defence areas to the extent that this is compatible with the military exercises there. The Minister for Defence will decide in the first instance.



Step4:Mitigation

If an activity has unavoidable, significantly adverse ecological effects, the initiator must take measures to minimise these in accordance with the provisions of the Nature Conservancy Act.

Theinitiatorsubmitsaprogrammeofmeasuresprovidingadetaileddescriptionofthefollowing:• theactivities(oraspectsthereof )thatwillcauseadverse

effects,whenthesewillbeperformedandunderwhatcircumstances;

• theeffectsthatwillbecaused,intermsofnature,scale,timeandplace;

• thepreventivemeasures(theireffect,implementationandultimateresult)tobetakeninordertominimisetheadverseeffects.

Thecompetentauthoritywillassesswhetherthemitigationplanhasbeenadequatelysubstantiated.

Step5:Compensatingforeffects

Under the Nature Conservancy Act, harm caused to the North Sea water system that, despite mitigation, cannot be prevented must be compensated for as satisfactorily as possible.

Compensatorymeasuresarepartoftheconditionssubjecttowhichpermitsareissued.Basedonmonitoringdata,thecompetentauthoritywillassesswhethertheproposedcompensatorymeasuresaresufficient.Consequently,itisimportantforthemonitoringtotieinwiththecompensationtask.InrelationtotheNatureConservancyAct,thisonlybecomesrelevantoncetheADCtesthasbeencompleted.

InthecaseofactivitiesoccurringinaNatura2000area,compensationissubjecttoanobligationtoachievecertainresults,whileaperformanceobligationsufficesinthecaseofactivitiesintheotherareasaffectingNatura2000targets.Thefollowingfundamentalprinciplesapplyforthepurposesofimplementingcompensatorymeasures:• compensationisrequiredonlyforsignificanteffects

thatpersistaftermeasureshavebeentakentolimit/mitigatethese;

• compensatorymeasuresmustbetakenpriortotheproposedactivitytakingplace;

• whereverpossible,compensationmustbeprovidedinkind,preferablyin,orotherwisedirectlyadjacentto,theNorthSea;

• theinitiatordrawsupacompensationplanthatmustbeapprovedbythecompetentauthority.

obligationasthewindfarmsthemselves.This removalobligationalsoappliestonewcontrol cablesandtelecommunicationscables.- Inprinciple,evenpipelinesinstalledundertheWater Actmustberemoved,towhichthesamechecklist applies.

- ForoldpipelinesinstalledundertheMiningAct, removalcanberequiredbytheMinister.Thesame checklistisusedforthis.

Step3:Utility&Necessity

In the event of significant adverse effects in terms of spatial planning or ecology, the reason why the relevant activity in the North Sea should be permitted must be demonstrated.

Foranumberofactivitiesinthenationalinterest,thisinteresthasbeenrenderedexplicitingovernmentpolicy(see5.2).Theimportanceoftheseactivitiesforsocietydoesnothavetoberesubstantiated.Allothertestsfromtheassessmentframework,ontheotherhand,willbeappliedtotheseactivities.

Forallotheractivitiescausingsignificantadverseeffectsintermsofspatialplanningorecology,theinitiatormustdemonstrateutilityandnecessity.Theyarerequiredtosubstantiatewhytheactivityhastotakeplaceinthatparticularlocationandwhyanotherlocation,includingonland,wouldnotsufficeforthepurpose.Incaseofdoubtregardingtheutilityandnecessityofanewactivity,thecompetentauthorityisentitledtorequestthattheinitiatorcarryoutasocialcost-benefitanalysis(SCBA),basedonwhichthecompetentauthoritywillmakeafinalassessment.Onceutilityandnecessityhavebeensuccessfullydemonstrated,theremainingtestsfromtheassessmentframeworkhaveyettobecompleted.

InaccordancewiththeNatureConservancyAct,nonewactivitieswithariskofsignificantecologicaleffectsarepermittedinorneartoareaswithparticularecologicalvalue(thedesignatedNatura2000areas),unlessnorealisticalternativesareavailableandtherearepressingreasonsofoverridingpublicinterestforallowingtheactivitytogoahead.Ifbothoftheseconditionsarefulfilled,thecompetentauthoritycanbalancethepublicinterestagainsttheinterestsofnature.Ifthepermitauthorityallowstheactivitytogoahead,theinitiatorwillhavetotakemeasurestominimisetheadverseeffects(mitigation)orcompensateforthem(seeassessments4and5).


6

InrecentyearstheNetherlandshas,invariousrespects,beendrawingattentiontocommonfundamentalprinciplesforspatialplanningatsea,forexamplewithregardtodistancesbetweenoffshorewindfarmsandshippingroutesaswellasthepossibilityofconnectingupthetrafficseparationschemeinthesouthernpartoftheNorthSea.CooperationhasbeensoughtwithNorthSeacountriesonresearchintoaninternationalelectricitygridintheNorthSeawhichwillbecapableofconnectingupoffshoreenergyproductionby203091.Continuingtoworktowardsthisambitionhasbeenincludedasanactionforthe2016-2021planningperiod(seesection7.2).WithinthecontextofOSPAR,workisbeingdoneonsuchthingsasmethodsforcumulativeeffectsofuseontheecosystem.

91 See www.benelux.int/nscogi.


TheimportanceofinternationalcooperationfortheNorthSeaisuniversallyacknowledged.Afterall,theseadoesnothaveanyboundaries.Intermsoftheecosystem,thisrelatestowaterqualityandbiodiversity,aswellasuseoftheseaforsuchactivitiesasshippingandfishing.PartlyinresponsetoadviceissuedbytheCouncilsfortheLivingEnvironmentandInfrastructurein201189,theperspectivehasbroadenedfromthesouthernpartoftheNorthSeatotheNorthSeainitsentirety,includingthejunctionswiththeEnglishChannelandtheKattegat/Skagerrak.ThiswholeareahasbeenconsideredintheprocessoftheNorthSea2050SpatialAgenda90andconsultationhasbeenheldwiththeotherNorthSeacountriesonNorthSea-wideplanningandanydevelopmentstobeexpected.

89 Councils for the Living Environment and Infrastructure, ‘A Sea of Opportunity, September 2011’ and the Cabinet’s response: Dutch House of Representatives, 2011-2012 session, 30 195, no. 31.


International collaboration

6.1 Developments


Figure 6.1 International North Sea

Legend

Situation in 2014

Knowledge export - existing economic sectors

Flood defences / water control / building with

nature

Shipbuilding

Leisure / Tourism

Cruise terminal

Cruise ship routes (indicative)

Marina (selection)

Leisure yachting (indicative)

North Sea cycle route

Ferries

Activity, Angling and Leisure yachting

(12-mile-zone)

Living and working at sea

Oil platform

Offshore wind farm:

existing / awarded / subsidy application

Designated wind energy area / lease or agreement

for lease

Wind energy search area within 12-mile-zone

Cultural history

Coastline 8000 BC

Coastline 10,500 BC

Prehistoric river courses

Military

Military areas

Underground

Urbanisation

Dunes

Relief

Challenges and opportunities for 2050

Leisure/tourism

Seaside town

Also as winter destination

International cooperation, Wadden coast

Culture history

International cooperation tourism and cultural

history

Themed map of Land & Sea - InternationalNorth Sea 2050 Spatial Agenda

>300m 0 12mile-mark -100m

Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in co-production with Ministry of Economic Affairs

Cartography MUST urbanism, June 2014


FromtheperspectiveoftheEuropeanCommission,BlueGrowthisthepolicyforsustainableeconomicdevelopmentinmatterspertainingtothesea.TheNorthSea2050SpatialAgendaismakinganinitialcontributiontothisdevelopmentbyexploringwheretheopportunitieslie.Thehigh-prioritytopicsofenergy,ecologyandshippingreceiveinternationalsupport.

TheNetherlandswillcontinuetodedicateitselftobolsteringinternationalharmonisationintermsofNorthSeapolicy.

6.2 Vision and tasking

TheinternationalimportanceofthesouthernpartoftheNorthSeaisincreasing,bothfromthesustainableeconomicperspective(transport,oilandgasreserves,renewableenergy)andfromtheecologicalperspective.InternationalcooperationhasthecapacitytoensurethatthemostismadeoftheNorthSea’spotential,enablingsynergeticbenefitstobegained.

FromtheperspectiveoftheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective,itisanticipatedthatcountrieswillconsidertheentireecosystem,inthiscasetheNorthSea(orsouthernpartthereof ),whendeterminingmarinestrategy,therebystrivingtowardsincreasedcoherencebetweenthevariouscountries.Thisstrategyentailsassessingenvironmentalstatus,formulatingobjectivesonthebasisofindicators,designingamonitoringprogrammeandimplementingmeasures.Morefar-reachingcooperationintheseareas–inthecontextofOSPAR,forexample–isnecessaryanddesirable.

TheEuropeanDirectiveestablishingaframeworkformaritimespatialplanning92callsforcloserinternationalcooperationintermsofplanning.Thisdirectivealsorequirestheinteractionbetweenlandandseatobetakenintoaccount.Tothisend,cooperationbetweentheNetherlandsandinternationalcoastalprovincesisnecessary.Thesecoastalprovincesarecollaboratingwithinacooperativeplatform,theNorthSeaCommission,whichpresentedacomprehensivevisiononpragmaticcooperationwithintheNorthSearegionin2012.


Renewable(wind)energyThistopicisoneofthemostsignificantdrivingforcesbehindinternationalcooperation.Planswithsitesforoffshorewindfarmssteeranumberofdevelopments,suchasthewayinwhichwindfarmsareconnectedtothegrid,possiblymultifunctionalenergyfarms(forotheruseandotherformsofenergygeneration),fine-tuningofpermitconditions,safedistancetoshippingroutes,regulationofsafeoperationaltraffic,useofserviceports,andresearchintoandfine-tuningofmethodologiestoascertaincumulativeecologicaleffects.Finally,synergycanbeachievedwhenitcomestoexchanginginnovationintermsofallfacetsofwindfarmsandknowledgeandinformationintermsofotherformsofrenewableenergy.

EcosystemDuetotheMSFD,increasedcoherenceisbeingsoughtbetweenthecountriessurroundingtheNorthSeaecosystem.ThisisoneoftheEuropeanCommission’srecommendationsonthereportssubmittedbymemberstates.Suchcoherenceisalsobeingsoughtforthepurposesofdesignating,delineatingandmanagingNatura2000areasintheEEZ.Inthisregard,itisaboutharmonisingprogrammesofmeasuresandmonitoringprogrammes,developingcommonindicatorsforthebenefitoftheMSFD,enrichingtheNatura2000directive,anddefiningandmanagingacoherentnetworkofNatura2000areas.

ShippingIntheareaofshipping,aspectspertainingtosafety,efficiencyandtheenvironmentrequireinternationalcoordination.Developmentisunderwaywithregardtooptimisationofmaritimeelectronicdataexchange,useofelectronicnavigationtoolsandbettersupervisionofshippingtopromotesafety.AnewtopicisthepossibledevelopmentoftheroutethroughtheArcticOcean.Thisisstillintheveryearlystagesofexploration.LimitingemissionsfromshipsissomethingthatisregulatedinternationallythroughtheIMO,withthepossibilityofregionalimplementationfortheNorthSea(forexample,bywayofaNitrogenEmissionControlArea).Thisrequiresaregionalapproach.Aregionalapproachisalsoneededtolimittheamountofwasteatseastemmingfromships.

Theagendaforinternationalcooperationoverthecomingyearscanbeorganisedaccordingtothetopicsthat,fromthepointofviewoftheNetherlands,requirethemostinternationalcooperation.Thedesignoftheagendadependsonawidearrayoffactors.

Theadministrativeandpoliticaldivisionofresponsibili-tiesvariesfromcountrytocountry,particularlywithregardtotheterritorialwaters(outto12nauticalmiles)butinmanycaseswithrespecttotheEEZaswell.Eventhewayinwhichpolicy,managementandimplementationareorganiseddiffersforeachcountry.Moreover,therearealreadyvariouspartnershipsinplaceinallmannerofsubareas,suchasresearchorenforcement,forwhichthebestwaytocooperatemustbeconsidered.Finally,thenatureofthecooperationdependsonthe(collective)ambition.Inafewcases,itwillbesufficienttoexchangeinformation;consultation(e.g.onplanswithpotentialconsequencesforneighbouringcountries)issometimesrequiredbylaw;harmonisation(ofsuchthingsasresearchprogrammesandmonitoring)enhancesefficiency.Finally,cooperationisnecessaryforthepurposesofachievingcoherence(e.g.fortheuseofindicators),notleastbecauseofthiscreatingalevelplayingfield.

FromthepointofviewoftheNetherlands,thefollowingtopicshavebeendistinguishedashigh-priorityinthecooperation:

SpatialplanningTheEuropeanDirectiveestablishingaframeworkformaritimespatialplanningrequirescooperationandharmonisationbetweencountriessituatedwithinacommonseabasinsuchastheNorthSea.Accordingtothisdirective,itisnotsomuchaquestionofcontentbutratheroftheprocessleadingtowardsspatialmanagementoftheNorthSea.Thestartoftheimplementationprocessconsistsinexploringandsubsequentlyconsultingoneanother’spolicyvisionandapproach.Inaddition,fromthepointofviewofthisdirective,itisalsoanticipatedthattheinteractionbetweenlandandseawillbereinforced.Inmanycountriesthemandateforthelandrestswiththeregions(subsections).Howtoinvolvetheseintheprocessissomethingthatwillbelookedatinmoredetailwithneighbouringcountries.


6.3 Policy


FoodsupplyTheEuropeanCommonFisheriesPolicy(CFP)callsforaregionalelaborationofanumberofaspects,suchasdrawingupdiscardplansfortheNorthSeaandnorth-westernwaters.Opportunitiesexistforinnovationinaquacultureandmariculture(includingshellfishcultivationandseaweedcultivation)byusingnaturalprocessesintheNorthSea,involvingtheopportunitytolearnfromtheknowledgeandexperienceacquiredinthecountriesaroundtheNetherlands.


7


Outline of the policy, actions and financing

Policydecisions Section

Marineecosystem • The conservation and recovery of the marine ecosystem are assessed when making spatial planning decisions on activities.• Natura 2000 areas at sea: Voordelta, North Sea Coastal Zone, the Vlakte van de Raan, Dogger Bank, Cleaver Bank and Frisian Front. Research is being carried out on whether or not the areas of Borkum Reef Ground and Brown Ridge should be designated.• Programme of Measures for Marine Strategy: - Existing measures, including in terms of the marine ecosystem, invasive exotic species, eutrophication, pollutants, litter and underwater noise; - New measures with regard to litter; - New measures with regard to seabed protection;

§ 5.3

§ 3.1

§ 4.2

Renewableenergy • Generating renewable energy (from the wind or otherwise) is an activity in the national interest.• Space for operational capacity of 4,450 MW of wind energy at sea by 2023.• Wind energy areas: Borssele, Coast of Holland, IJmuiden Ver and North of the Wadden Islands. Search areas: strip between 10 and 12 NM adjacent to the Coast of Holland wind energy area. The Central Government does not grant permission for wind farms to be built outside of designated wind energy areas. Within the designated areas, permission is only granted for wind farms to be built within the bounds of the Offshore Wind Energy Act (Wet windenergie op zee, being developed).• Development in harmony with other uses of the North Sea: - design criterion ‘distance between shipping routes and wind farms’; - design process ‘distance between mining sites and wind farms’; - policy development with regard to ‘passage and multiple use’.

§ 3.3

§ 3.3§ 4.3

§ 4.3

Surfaceminerals • Sand extraction for coastal defences and filling is an activity in the national interest.• Sand extraction strategy with preferred routes for cables and pipelines.

§ 3.4 § 4.4

Oilandgasextraction • Activity in the national interest.• Making the most of the potential of the oil and gas reserves.

§ 3.5§ 3.5

CO2storage • Activity in the national interest.• Sufficient space for CO2 storage as a temporary tool in the process of developing a fully renewable energy supply.

§ 3.6§ 3.6

Cablesandpipelines • The activities (wind) energy, oil and gas extraction and CO2 transport, including requisite cables and pipelines, are in the national interest.• Bundling cables and pipelines; removal obligation for cables and pipelines no longer in use.• Honing removal obligation for pipelines.• Checklist for determining removal obligation for cables or pipelines revised.

§ 3.7

§ 3.7

§ 3.7§ 5.3


7.1 Outline of the policy

Policydecisions Section

Shipping • Activity in the national interest.• Maintaining a system of traffic separation schemes, clearways and anchorages capable of accommodating vessels safely and smoothly.• Implementing measures to reduce pollution caused by shipping (merchant vessels, fishing vessels, offshore, supply and recreation).

§ 3.8§ 3.8

§ 4.2

Defence • Activity in the national interest.• Sufficient exercise zones in the North Sea.

§ 3.9§ 3.9

Fishing,aquacultureandmariculture

• Fostering responsible fishing and aquaculture practices and balanced use of fish stocks, striving towards a state of equilibrium between fishing and nature and a different division of responsibilities between government and industry.• Continuing to contribute to the primary objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and implementing measures with regard to the marine ecosystem.

§ 3.10

§ 4.2

UnderwaterCulturalHeritage • The conservation of underwater cultural heritage is assessed when making spatial planning decisions on activities.

§ 5.2

Tourismandrecreation • Facilitating and encouraging the tourism and recreation sector as a network partner to a partnership between entrepreneurs, market institutions and research institutes.• Engaging in dialogue with local and regional government authorities and other parties where spatial planning or other policy developments in terms of the North Sea impact marine and coastal recreation.

§ 3.12

§ 3.12

Interactionbetweenlandandsea • When formulating spatial planning policy, specific attention needs to be paid to the interaction between land and sea, having due regard for the implementation of the directive on maritime spatial planning.

§ 3.13

Internationalcollaboration • Thematic approach to partnerships with neighbouring countries. § 6.3


Subject Campaigns Leader Year*

Marineecosystem Annually updating WFD monitoring programme. Ministry of I&E

Annually

Establishing and implementing MSFD knowledge agenda. Ministry of I&E

Annually

Updating marine strategy (initial assessment and description of good environmental status).

Ministry of I&E

2018

Drawing up / establishing management plans Natura 2000 / MSFD areas at sea.

Ministry of I&E

2015-2020

Exploring options for building with nature. Ministry of EA

2015-2016

Carrying out research into recovery of shellfish banks (including recovery of the European flat oyster).

Ministry of EA

2015-2016

Carrying out research into the wind farms’ contribution to biodiversity. Ministry of EA

2015

Carrying out research into the combined functions of use and nature development on artificial hard substrate (building with nature).

Ministry of EA

2015-2018

Drawing up North Sea action plan for the recovery of vulnerable sharks and rays.

Ministry of EA

2015

Launching a project to find an alternative to dolly rope on a national and international scale.

Ministry of I&E

2015-2016

Carrying out research into underwater noise arising as a result of explosives ordnance disposal and sonar and research into background noise.

Ministry of Defence / Ministry of I&E

2018

Carrying out research into the extent and effects of by-catch, contaminants and underwater noise on porpoises.

Ministry of EA

2015-2021

Exploring (at administrative level) options to prevent the fishing gear of bottom trawlers getting caught up in stationary fishing equipment (gill nets, crab traps).

Ministry of I&E

2015-2016

Renewableenergy Drawing up North Sea Energy Master Plan 2030-2050. Ministry of EA

2015-2016

Carrying out research into the potential of new technologies and encouraging tidal / wave energy.

Ministry of EA

2015-2021

Research into combined energy farms. Ministry of EA

2015-2016

Developing international network of sustainable (wind) energy (grid) in the North Sea, in conjunction with the surrounding countries.

Ministry of I&E

2015

Distance between mining sites and wind farms: • If need be, adapt Helicopter Main Routes Flight safety: • Research into and decision-making on applicability of segment approach. • Studies of effects of wake turbulence in and around offshore wind farms in terms of flight safety.

Ministry of I&E

2015-2019


7.2 Overview of actions

Subject Campaigns Leader Year*

Surfaceminerals Evaluation of deep sand extraction Maasvlakte 2. Ministry of I&E

2015-2016

Oilandgasextraction No actions relating to Policy Document on the North Sea. N/A N/A

CO2storage No actions relating to Policy Document on the North Sea. N/A N/A

Cablesandpipelines Research into how to deal with monitoring obligation for indefinite period for pipelines that are no longer in use.

Ministry of EA / Ministry of I&E

2015-2018

Shipping Engaging in dialogue on international common fundamental principles for marine spatial planning regarding distances between wind farms and shipping routes.

Ministry of I&E

2015-2018

Exploring the changes in traffic policy as a result of more intensive coastal shipping, offshore activities and the increasingly navigable route past the North Pole (through the Arctic Ocean), as well as the possible consequences of this for the economy, safety and the environment.

Ministry of I&E

2018

Defence No actions relating to Policy Document on the North Sea. N/A N/A

Fishing,aquacultureandmariculture

Carrying out studies and pilot projects in aquaculture and mariculture. Ministry of EA

2015-2018

UnderwaterCulturalHeritage

Updating existing historic ship sites. Ministry of ECS

2015

Tourismandrecreation See interaction between land and sea. N/A N/A

Interactionbetweenlandandsea

Exchanging information with neighbouring countries on the best way to incorporate interaction between land and sea when implementing the directive establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (statutorily by 2016, initial plan by 2021).

Ministry of I&E

2015-2021

Analysing the possible need for Central Government policy, based on an overview of spatial interaction between land and sea, in dialogue with local authorities, as well as input for the Environmental Vision.

Ministry of I&E

2015

* Although this pertains to the 2016-2021 planning period, a number of actions are anticipated for 2015. If possible, the results of these actions will be incorporated into the definitive version of the Policy Document on the North Sea 2016-2021.



7.3 Financing

AvarietyofdivisionsfromvariousministriesmanagetheNorthSeacollectively.Bothpublicandprivatepartiesaredevelopingactivitiesinconnectionwiththedesignateduses.ForthepurposesoftheNorthSeapolicy(seesection7.1),thesearecoveredbythebudgetsoftheMinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironmentandtheMinistryofEconomicAffairs.Rijkswaterstaatisimplementingthepolicyand,assuch,itisassigned‘tasks’alongwiththeaccompanyingbudgets.ThisisfleshedoutintheManagementandDevelopmentPlanforNationalWaters(Bprw).Wherethispertainstotheactionsspecified(seesection7.2),thefundamentalprincipleisthattheinstigatorisresponsiblefororganisingfinancingfortherelevantaction.

Criterion Checklist

Space Requisite space including operational and safety zones

Fragmentation of free space

Barrier effect

Impediments caused to other existing and future designated uses

Environmentalconsequences

Disturbance caused to seabed ecosystem

Consequences in terms of water quality

Release of substances not naturally occurring in the area

Disturbance to fish fauna

Disturbance to birds and marine mammals

Net energy consumption

Recycling options

Safety If removing:

- risks to workers and material during removal.

If leaving in place:

- risks in terms of becoming exposed, rupture, etc.;

- risks to fishing;

- risks to shipping;

Costs If removing:

- Balance of removal and processing costs and any revenue.

If leaving in place:

- cleaning costs;

- inspection costs;

- liability costs;

- extra costs for other existing or future designated uses as a result of hindrance caused.

* This checklist does not apply to cables for wind farms.

Annex 1Cables and pipelines removal obligation checklist*


Colophon

Design CO3

Photography MinistryofI&Eimagebank(p.12,48,74)

TinekeDijkstra,HollandseHoogte(p.4)

PeterHilz(p.18)

ThomasFasting(p.84)

MischaKeijser(p.90)

Cartography MinistryofInfrastructureandtheEnvironment(insidecover,p.26,52,68,72)

MUSTurbanism(p.14,86)

Print GrafischGoed

This is a publication of

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the EnvironmentThe Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs

Post Office Box 20901 | 2500 EX The Hague | The Netherlandswww.government.nl/ienmwww.noordzeeloket.nl

December 2014