Offshore wind park during construction and harbour porpoise with sensor technic for determination of underwater auditory thresholds
Project leader: Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr Ursula Siebert
Scientific staff: Dr. Andreas Ruser
Project term: November 2023 until October 2026
Sponsorship: BUND Landesverband Niedersachsen e.V.

Project description

Underwater noise from ship traffic, the construction of facilities in the water and on the coast or the explosion of ammunition in the sea is identified as a threat by various national and international expert assessments and has negative effects on marine animals in the Wadden Sea - especially on marine mammals, including porpoises. Many projects on the effects of noise pollution on marine mammals underwater are already being carried out at the ITAW. The ITAW is particularly concerned with the effects of underwater noise on harbor porpoises, with a particular focus on ship traffic, offshore constructions, and unexploded ordnance contaminated sites (e.g. BfN-UWE2, BMBF-COASTALFUTURE, EU project SATURN). In this joint project with BUND, ITAW will provide support with recommendations for measures to reduce the effects of underwater noise on porpoises, development of voluntary rules of conduct, participation in panel discussions and materials for exhibitions. Different target groups should be made aware of the need to reduce underwater noise through different offers (exhibitions, lectures in schools, raising awareness among recreational boat owners). At the same time, recommendations for concrete measures to reduce underwater noise pollution are being developed.

 

Contact person

Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research
Werftstr. 6
25761 Büsum

Dr. Andreas Ruser

Phone: +49 (0)511-8568156
e-mail schreiben