Seabirds@risk: Gevoeligheidskartering voor antropogene verstoring van zeevogels op zee

The main sources of anthropogenic disturbance to seabirds in the North Sea are offshore wind farms, shipping, fishing, recreation and sand extraction. Observing the precautionary principle, it is important to set aside space at sea not only for human activities but also for birds, in the form of an area where seabirds can rest and forage undisturbed. The search zone proposed in this report for demarcation of such a marine reserve off the Vlaamse Banken is completely outside important shipping routes and offshore wind farm concession areas, and at the same time integrally within Habitat Directive areas.