Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) can have a major negative impact on nocturnal migratory birds. Artificial light appears to disrupt the internal system birds use to navigate at night and causes them to deviate from their normal migration routes. It has been reported that birds sometimes circle for hours or even collide with illuminated structures, often resulting in death. For birds migrating through the Wadden Sea, brightly lit sites along the coastline and infrastructure, such as lighthouses or oil platforms in the North Sea, as well as fishing boats, can pose a threat.

Not only detrimental to birds

Light pollution can also have adverse effects on many other species such as insects, bats or plants. Behavioural and physiological changes, an increased risk of predation or habitat loss due to ALAN, inhibit natural processes with negative consequences for reproduction or survival which may ultimately lead to a population decline.

But we can do something about it!

Studies show that artificial light at night is increasing by at least 2% per year worldwide. Fortunately, there are already many solutions to combat light pollution and there are numerous initiatives to raise awareness on this issue, also in the Wadden area.

More information on the effects of ALAN on the Wadden Sea ecosystem can be found here.

More information

ir. S. (Sonja) van der Graaf, Tel: +31 (0)6 11 48 71 20. E-mail: sonja.vandergraaf@rvo.nl

Het bericht Turn out THE LIGHT FOR WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY (WMDB) 2022 verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

Report available

The report of this scientific symposium, which is held every four years, is now available. This report forms an important building block for the agreements that Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands will make at the trilateral ministerial conference on the Wadden Sea in late 2022. The report can be found on the website of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS).

Het bericht 15th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

To better understand the relationship between light emissions and the Outstanding Universal Value ​​of our World Heritage, PRW commissioned, within the Trilateral Dark Sky Initiative, in collaboration with the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat and the Partnership Hub, a scientific literature review of the known effect of Artificial Light at Night on organisms and ecosystems in the Wadden Sea or similar habitats. This document collects the most important existing literature, highlights existing knowledge gaps and provides brief recommendations to mitigate these effects.

The dark side of Light

While light is generally seen as positive, there is mounting evidence that ALAN changes behaviour, space use, migration, physiology, development, and reproduction in almost all organism groups, including plants and microorganisms. Moreover, Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing factor in the anthropogenic environment.

Proven effects for birds and insects

Special focus of research so far has been on birds and insects. The Wadden Sea World Heritage area is an important part of the East Atlantic migration route. Yearly, almost 10 to 12 million birds use this area. ALAN has shown to change flight paths by attracting birds, thus posing a high risk of fatal bird strikes to millions of birds worldwide each year. Insects are also attracted to light sources and ALAN changes reproductive behaviour, which results in local reduction of insect populations. In all terrestrial ecosystems, insects play a vital role, and individual consequences have been shown to translate through cascade-effects into food webs and entire ecosystems. We also expect that the effects of ALAN on the barrier islands and coastal areas will translate to the intertidal habitats.

Sufficient indications of more far-reaching effects

Less is known about the impacts of ALAN on marine ecosystems, but freshwater habitats have been shown to be especially sensitive to ALAN. Even low light levels are enough to interfere with fish hormone production, suppress plankton movements, and influence algal growths. In regard of marine and intertidal habitats, many questions still need to be answered, however, it is clear even now that ALAN is a serious environmental stressor. It most likely weakens the resilience of individuals and ecosystems to other stressor like climate change or chemical pollutants, exponentiating this damage.

Towards responsible lighting

Based on current evidence, ALAN needs to be used with care, especially in areas with mostly unchanged biological processes. Generally, the use of ALAN needs to be justified by balancing benefit and harm. Where ALAN is needed, it is necessary to follow light planning criteria and to apply the best available knowledge in terms of technology and design, in order to create illumination that reduces harmful effects to the environment.  

More information

S. (Sonja) van der Graaf. E-mail: sonja.vandergraaf@rvo.nl. Tel: +31 (0)6 1148 7120.

Het bericht Artificial Light at Night and the Wadden Sea World Heritage verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

The Programme towards a Rich Wadden Sea , together with the Province of Noord-Holland, Staatsbosbeheer and Rijkswaterstaat, prepared a short animation about the importance of dune dynamics.

Dynamics; why and how?

Although there are already beautiful examples of dunes dynamics and its effects, only few people are really familiar with this phenomenon. Many grew up with marram grass as dune stabilizer; disturbance was out of the question because it was considered to cause dangerous dune erosion. We now know that it can be done differently. In this short animation we briefly discuss how we shape our coastal management, the importance of more dynamics in the dunes and how this can be practically achieved.

Opportunities for nature and for ourselves

In general, allowing dynamics means that more sand moves from the beach into the dune areas, so that we also get higher and wider dune areas. These offer greater flood protection and greater freshwater storage. More dynamics also result in a rejuvenation of the landscape, leading to increased natural values and their preservation for future generations. The resulting spectacular landscape is also very attractive for tourism. Precondition to this strategy is that sufficient sand is available in the foreshore and/or on the beach. But if necessary, the sand mass can be replenished by manmade sand nourishments. And of course, increasing dune dynamics requires customization to local conditions and public support.

By keeping the coastline in place and simultaneously giving the dunes more freedom, we create opportunities for nature and for ourselves.

More information

Sonja van der Graaf. Tel: +31 (0)6 11 48 71 20, E-mail: sonja.vandergraaf@rvo.nl.

Het bericht Dunes in motion; for mankind and nature verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

Presentations available

All presentations are now available on the website of the Community of Understanding, following this link. The dune dynamics animation video can be found here. The link to the video registration of the webinar is send to the participants of the community by email.

Moving forward with the CoU Wadden Sea Sediment Solutions

The follow-up of the community of understanding is an important topic. It is time to hand over the ownership of the community to it participants self. With a light trilateral support. The fact that Programme towards a Rich Wadden Sea ends in its actual form at the end of 2022 makes this transition urgent. We are looking for people who will and can be part of the proposed agenda committee. During the webinar interest was expressed by more than 10 people for the midterm. So we are especially looking for those who can step in now. With hopefully an evenness over the three countries. Based on our own experience, the number of activities and the availability of practical support, we estimate that this will take approximately 2 to 3 days per year. So please let us know before April 1 if you want and can help the community. As soon as possible afterwards we organize a new agenda committee meeting.

2022 is the third year of activities of the Community of Understanding Sediment Solutions, in a time when sediment and sediment management is becoming more and more relevant due to climate change, nature protection and other challenges. Looking back at interesting webinars and excursions, we have been working on possible activities for 2022 and the current ideas include a webinar, an excursion and perhaps a contribution to the Trilateral Governmental Conference in Wilhelmshaven in the form of a side event.

Available information

The information we have shared within the community so far can be found via this link: https://rijkewaddenzee.nl/en/sedimentsolutions/

The long read of the October 2021 excursion can be found via this link: https://rijkewaddenzee.nl/SedimentSolutionsExcursion2021/

Het bericht Sediment Solutions 4th webinar verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

Restoration of Wadden Sea fish populations: still a lot to do

In recent years, many different parties in the Northern Netherlands have worked hard on the recovery of fish populations in the Wadden Sea region. All current initiatives have been listed. The Swimway – the way in which the fish use the Wadden Sea area and the sea – is not yet in order. The report shows what has already been done and what is still needed to improve it further. Good cooperation between the parties is crucial to help species such as eel, smelt, flounder, sea trout and river lamprey. It involves optimising measures along the coast and in inland waters, joint research programmes and coordination of major improvements to fish migration at the sluices in the Afsluitdijk and Lauwersmeer.

Fully illustrated story

The story of the Swimway Wadden & Achterland can serve as an umbrella for all the necessary efforts for the Swimway in the Northern Netherlands. With beautiful illustrations, the report describes how fish use the Wadden Sea, the Wadden coast and sometimes the fresh water in the hinterland to complete their life cycle.

Different efforts

In the framework of the trilateral cooperation Swimway Wadden Sea, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark have jointly agreed on five objectives to work on robust and viable populations, restoration of the breeding ground function of the Wadden Sea, fish migration measures and protection of endangered fish species. PRW has worked on these goals in recent years with various parties in the Netherlands. The report shows which projects and programmes are taking place where. And a lot has happened. New fish passages, for example, help fish move freely from the sea to inland waters and vice versa. Scientific research has taught us where fish are, how they behave and what they need to complete their life cycle. This knowledge helps in better fish management. Tightening up the protection policy, as laid down in the WFD and N2000, among other things, must also contribute to improving the fish stock in the Wadden Sea.

The necessary tasks at hand

There is still a lot to do. The report shows what we still lack in knowledge and which measures and policy adjustments are required. It is a warm plea for strengthening the mutual cooperation of the parties involved, so that we can once again speak of a Wadden Sea full of fish.

You can find a part of the illustrations of the report here, they are free for use.

More information

Martha Buitenkamp of PRW. Tel: +31 (0)6 21 57 84 77. E-mail: m.buitenkamp@anantis.nl.

Het bericht Wadden region full of fish again verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

My name is Erika, I am a third-year Bachelor’s student of International Relations and International Organization at the University of Groningen and for the past three months I have worked as an intern at Programme towards a Rich Wadden Sea. 

Why the Waddenzee?

Because I grew up on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the sea as a whole has always been the backdrop to my life. Now that I am studying in Groningen, the Wadden was the closest marine expanse to me and that is why I jumped at the opportunity to get to know more about it. More specifically, this internship constituted for me a bridge between my current studies and the interest in Climate and Ocean Governance that I will further pursue with a Master’s in Climate Adaptation Governance at the RUG.

The echo of PRW

As for my internship assignment, I was asked to reflect on the ‘echo’ generated by PRW and The Wadden Logbook represents the final product of my work. The question that guided my reflection was: what is the legacy of PRW? The answer to that can be found in the podcast. Five short episodes where, in a nutshell, I tell you my version of the PRW’s legacy. Spoiler alert: managing a common good can be really challenging when so many people benefit from it! Don’t worry, I am not an expert nor a true connoisseur of the Wadden sea, so I will not pretend to be one; but that’s the beauty of it! 

Last but not least, if you prefer a more classic format, you can find my reflection in the written version here:

Here’s the instructions for use:

• choose your favorite version;
• sit comfortably;
• let The Wadden Logbook take you on a journey through uncharted waters! I look forward to your feedback!

You can find The Wadden logbook on our YouTube channel:

Episode 1 – Introducing The Wadden Logbook

Episode 2 – Leave the spaghetti to the Italians

Episode 3 – The sauce needs a new cook part 1

Episode 3.1 – The sauce needs a new cook part 2

Episode 4 – Highly systemic and deeply personal

Episode 5 – Wake up call

More information:

Please contact Erika Compatangelo: e.compatangelo@student.rug.nl. Or Michiel Firet: m.firet@staatsbosbeheer.nl.

Het bericht The Wadden Logbook verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

The legal protection of the underwater nature on the grounds of the European directives appears to be implemented differently per country. Compared to Germany and Denmark, the Netherlands has brought fewer species and habitats under the protection regime. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive does not apply to the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea either, in contrast to the German and Danish parts. An ecosystem-based approach, which is also required under the OSPAR Convention, cannot be enforced in the Netherlands by legislation.

Practice

But the question is whether the policy will also work out differently in practice.  All speakers have experienced complicated discussions in their own countries about allowing activities with negative impacts on the marine subway.    

Chair Bernard Baerends, general secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS), concluded that our rich underwater nature deserves good protection and that there is still a lot to do in that area within the trilateral cooperation.

Summary and Presentations

Het bericht Protection policy subtidal nature on trilateral agenda verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

The trilateral Wadden Sea Plan 2010 aims to achieve a natural dynamic situation in the tidal area, an increase in the geomorphologically and biologically undisturbed mudflat and subtidal area. In addition, a natural size, distribution and development of natural mussel beds, Sabellaria reefs and Zostera fields. The Wadden Sea countries are obliged to implement these WSP goals in their national legislation and policy. But how does this policy help to protect our subtidal nature, our marine subway? In the webinar, speakers from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands will show how European subtidal nature has been implemented in national legislation and how this works out in practice.

The speakers are:

Scheiffarth Gregor from Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer
Kaj Eskildsen from Nationalpark Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer
Henrik Pind G Jørgensen from Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet Denmark, Ministry of the Environment and Food Denmark
Nina Fieten from Altenburg & Wymenga, an independent ecological research and consultancy firm
Kees Bastmeijer from Tilburg University – Tilburg Law school, public law and governance
The chairman of the day is Bernard Baerends from Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS).

Program

Which underwater nature is protected in the Wadden Sea?

Scheiffarth Gregor and Kaj Eskildsen will present the situation in Germany. The Danish and Dutch speaker will complement with the situation in their country.

Which policy instruments do you use to protect underwater nature in the Wadden Sea?

Henrik Pind G Jørgensen will present the situation in Denmark. The Dutch and German speaker will complement this with the policy instruments in The Netherlands and Germany.

How does it work in practice?

Nina Fieten will present the situation in the Netherlands. The German and Danish speaker will complement with the situation in their country.

What we can learn from each other?

The webinar will conclude with a discussion about what we can learn from each other and whether additional exchange is desirable.

Sign up to join

If you are interested to participate, you can register by sending an e-mail to Jolanda Zwart. Some days before the webinar you will receive a link and technical instructions.

This webinar is organized by the Dutch Programme towards a Rich Wadden Sea (PRW).

Het bericht Invitation – Trilateral webinar Wadden Sea verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.

The idea of the pilot project

The aim of the pilot project was and is to learn from ecosystem perspective more about the importance of big carcasses and its decomposition for marine biodiversity interactions. And to raise awareness about the fact that dead and decomposition are normal parts of a sound ecosystem, and have added value to the understanding of the Outstanding Universal Values of the Wadden Sea World Heritage.

We have already some large marine mammal carcasses on shore (litoral), e.g. on Juist (2012) and on Rottumerplaat (2020, see www.basismonitoringwaddenzee.nl). The extra challenge of this pilot project was to arrange a subtidal situation. Not every sublittoral situation is suitable. And the chance that a large marine mammal carcass will get to a place which is not in conflict with human interests is very small. So part of the pilot project proposal is/was to bring a suitable carcass to a suitable spot.

The aim of the pilot was to learn from this scientifically and to contribute, via education and information, to raising awareness of the marine nature of the Wadden Sea and the significance of decomposition. PRW has investigated with the partners the choice of location for the pilot project, the aspects of transport and fixation, aspects of sonosis and food safety, and an approach to get the scientific research and monitoring and an education programme organized. You can read more about this investigation in the (Dutch) report “Pilot Walviskadaver voor natuur en bewustwording” and its attachments.

No further action

The analysis shows that it is possible to start a sublittoral pilot whale cadaver for nature and awareness – whereby the cadaver is kept under water. It is technically and financially possible. There is a suitable location (De Sprutel to the south of Isle of Schiermonnikoog) that is also suitable from a safety and support perspective. And there is at least one alternative location. For science, the pilot project offers an excellent opportunity to gain new insights into various fields, such as ecology, food safety and socio-economics (in situ research that ties in with current knowledge programs like Wadden Mosaic and Swimway). The pilot project adds a new element to the education programme about the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site and will appeal to the imagination of visitors. And the pilot offers opportunities for the deployment of targeted research capacity and innovation.

So why is the decision not to continue the pilot? For the board members there are still too many uncertainties, especially when it comes to who is responsible for the pilot and how the research and education programs will be organized and financed in detail. This demands extra steps, for which a provisional decision is necessary. The board decided that, also in relationship to other actual developments in the Dutch Wadden Sea region, taking this next step is not of the most importance now. The perceived practical objections and the matters that now require attention in the Wadden Sea, such as nature restoration measures and spatial interventions, meant that the board members did not want to continue with the pilot project Whale carcass in the Wadden Sea.

Thinking about

Although this pilot did not exceed into concrete measures in the Wadden Sea a part of the proposed outcome has been reached. Especially after the announcement in the regional media of the pilot proposal, March 2020, the debate about the importance of dead animals in the Wadden Sea ecosystem became more noticeable. An important outcome of the initiative is that the thinking about death and decomposition of large marine mammals in the ecosystem of the Wadden Sea (and the North Sea coastal zone) has changed. Because the subject is so sensitive, while thinking about the pilot idea and the operational elaboration, we worked step by step to get the conversation going. And this created mental space, when the opportunity arose in November 2020, to leave a washed-up dwarf minke whale at Rottumerplaat and start monitoring it (see www.basismonitoringwaddenzee.nl). In January 2021, a sperm whale washed ashore on Vlieland. A situation out of line with the guidelines, and in no way a candidate for the pilot project. But it became clear that the general public also had opinions about ‘just leave it’ and ‘it’s part of nature’.

Information available

All relevant information that has been gathered for the above elaboration is now available on the PRW website.(mostly Dutch). For questions and comments, please contact Michiel Firet. E m.firet@staatsbosbeheer.nl T +31 (0)6 12 96 18 98.

Het bericht No pilot project submarine whale carcass verscheen eerst op Programma naar een Rijke Waddenzee.