I am a bird ecologist specialised in seabirds, coastal birds, and bird migration. I have over 30 years of experience in ornithological research, particularly in the context of impact assessments for offshore wind farms. I have always been fascinated by and explaining the spatial and temporal patterns in bird occurrences, including the impacts of human interventions and activities on birds and their natural habitats.

I would like to contribute to the NWA proposal “Knowledge Development of Ecological Effects of Wind Farms at Sea.” With 20 years of experience in marine ecology, offshore wind, and nature-inclusive design, I bring expertise in research, monitoring, and policy advising. My focus is on the ecological impact of offshore structures and cumulative effects, aligned with the KEC framework. I am eager to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team toward sustainable offshore wind solutions.

The observation dome, measuring food and mud filtered by mussels and anemones, was further improved and applied at sea. A paper on satellite data of changes in the amount of mud in the water was published. Observations of wakes of wind turbines were collected and compared with models. Model scenarios of mussel growth were run for the Borssele wind farm. System understanding of potential knowledge-based governance arrangements was improved by including other projects.

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.

NO-REGRETS is a 5.5-year, multi-disciplinary research program co-designed with stakeholders to understand the ecological and economic tradeoffs of upscaling offshore wind farms (OWFs) in light of climate change and in relation to the ongoing food and nature transitions in the North Sea. A “whole-ecosystem” approach is used by examining physical and biogeochemical processes, suspended sediments, plankton, fish, seabed composition, seafloor organisms, marine mammals, and sea birds. Oceanographic research cruises, satellite remote sensing and ecosystem modelling will advance knowledge needed for testing of ecological hypotheses, performing bioeconomic analyses, and informing science-based policymaking.