ECOAMARE supports the development of strategic policies related to the upscaling of offshore wind energy. ECOAMARE first provides an overview of the knowledge of the environmental impact of offshore wind energy, including cumulative impacts and how such knowledge can be adapted to the needs of policy makers and stakeholders. ECOAMARE secondly identifies conflicts and synergies between offshore activities , assess strategies for solving or reducing conflicts or supporting synergies and, finally, analyzing trade-offs between activities when conflicts can not be solved. Finally, ECOAMARE analyzes barriers and opportunities for balancing interests and developing strategic policies in legal frameworks and policy processes.

Volumes of mineable sand are dwindling worldwide and more sand from the North Sea will be needed to protect our coast from rising sea levels. We face the challenge of minimising the ecological effects of sand extraction so that the marine ecosystem remains healthy and continues to supply us with food. In this project, governmental organisations, the fisheries sector, the dredging industry, nature organisations and researchers work together to ecologically optimise sand extraction.