The first ecological accompanying research for the Butendiek
offshore wind farm finally commenced in the spring of 2000. To
record the flora and fauna [benthosj occurring in the sea floor
in the area of the 80 offshore wind turbines planned, ecologists
from BioConsult SH took soil samples in the autumn of 2001
and the spring of 2002. At the same time, they began to fish in
the project area with drag nets in order to identify species and
quantities of the fish population. The experts also counted the
migratory and resting birds and the porpoises living in the project
location. For example, Dr. Georg Nehls, founder and managing director of BioConsult SH and his team recorded the populations
of birds and marine mammals from low-flying aircraft - with the
naked eye and binoculars. To do so, they flew along routes previously marked on their sea charts separated by a few kilométrés, so-called transects, which covered not only the 30 square
kilométrés of the project area but also a reference area of 2,500
square kilométrés.
A further method was to sail slowly along the transects in vessels. In addition, migrating birds were recorded from a vessel at
anchor in day and night observations. The team from BioConsult
SH also took radar images that were evaluated on land. Today,
BioConsult SH works with film recordings to measure populations
which are later evaluated on a computer screen.
The majority of this initial sériés of investigations had been concluded by May 2002, and subsequently the North Frisian Butendiekers submitted their expanded approval documentation to
BSH. Shortly before Christmas 2002, after an examination lasting
6 months, they did indeed receive the approval they were hoping
for as the second German offshore project after Borkum West
(later alpha ventusj. Nevertheless, the accompanying ecological
investigations continued beyond that date until November 2003.
In order to be absolutely sure that their wind farm would hâve
no négative impact on the marine environment, the designers of
that time mandated BioConsult SH to produce two further expert reports. The first study was intended to clarify whether and
to what extent bird migrations might be affected by the planned
Butendiek wind farm. The second report focused on the longterm counting of porpoises which were recorded by means of
Porpoise Detectors, PODs for short, which had been newly developed at the time. These PODs are small ultrasound receivers
which are anchored to the sea bed with a rope System and record
the location signais emitted by porpoises.
Although BioConsult SH reached the conclusion in their final bird
study presented at the end of 200A that the Butendiek project
would affect red-throated and black-throated divers but in no
way threaten their survival, the nature and biodiversity conservation union, NABU, was foremost in criticising the choice of location.
80
offshore wind farm finally commenced in the spring of 2000. To
record the flora and fauna [benthosj occurring in the sea floor
in the area of the 80 offshore wind turbines planned, ecologists
from BioConsult SH took soil samples in the autumn of 2001
and the spring of 2002. At the same time, they began to fish in
the project area with drag nets in order to identify species and
quantities of the fish population. The experts also counted the
migratory and resting birds and the porpoises living in the project
location. For example, Dr. Georg Nehls, founder and managing director of BioConsult SH and his team recorded the populations
of birds and marine mammals from low-flying aircraft - with the
naked eye and binoculars. To do so, they flew along routes previously marked on their sea charts separated by a few kilométrés, so-called transects, which covered not only the 30 square
kilométrés of the project area but also a reference area of 2,500
square kilométrés.
A further method was to sail slowly along the transects in vessels. In addition, migrating birds were recorded from a vessel at
anchor in day and night observations. The team from BioConsult
SH also took radar images that were evaluated on land. Today,
BioConsult SH works with film recordings to measure populations
which are later evaluated on a computer screen.
The majority of this initial sériés of investigations had been concluded by May 2002, and subsequently the North Frisian Butendiekers submitted their expanded approval documentation to
BSH. Shortly before Christmas 2002, after an examination lasting
6 months, they did indeed receive the approval they were hoping
for as the second German offshore project after Borkum West
(later alpha ventusj. Nevertheless, the accompanying ecological
investigations continued beyond that date until November 2003.
In order to be absolutely sure that their wind farm would hâve
no négative impact on the marine environment, the designers of
that time mandated BioConsult SH to produce two further expert reports. The first study was intended to clarify whether and
to what extent bird migrations might be affected by the planned
Butendiek wind farm. The second report focused on the longterm counting of porpoises which were recorded by means of
Porpoise Detectors, PODs for short, which had been newly developed at the time. These PODs are small ultrasound receivers
which are anchored to the sea bed with a rope System and record
the location signais emitted by porpoises.
Although BioConsult SH reached the conclusion in their final bird
study presented at the end of 200A that the Butendiek project
would affect red-throated and black-throated divers but in no
way threaten their survival, the nature and biodiversity conservation union, NABU, was foremost in criticising the choice of location.
80