Compensatory measures monitoring Maasvlakte II - IMARES (EVINBO)

The expansion of the port of Rotterdam through the creation of the second Maasvlakte has a potential impact on the foraging behaviour and habitat use of the sandwich tern and common tern, and compensatory measures have therefore been taken in the form of the establishment of a soil protection area in the Voordelta. This should have a positive effect on the availability of food for these tern species. No negative impact is therefore expected to be noticeable from the creation of the Second Maasvlakte on the numbers, foraging behaviour and breeding success of the sandwich tern and common tern. The monitoring and research conducted by INBO primarily serves to measure whether this objective is actually being achieved. The research is part of a much larger study in which other partners are investigating the possible effects on benthic organisms, fish and sea birds and which is also looking at whether the anthropogenic disturbance of the ecosystem is actually being reduced by the introduction of soil protection and resting areas.