Abstract
The strategy followed by BSH in regard with pile driving activities is the reduction of unwanted noise at the source. The strategy is in line with the precautionary principle and aims to prevent impacts to the marine environment and the key species harbour porpoise. The monitoring and assessment of BSH in regard to pile driving follows a holistic approach. Since 2008 all licences given by BSH for offshore construction in German waters include mandatory threshold values for underwater pile driving sound in the incidental clauses: 160 dB Sound Event Level and 190 dB Sound Pressure Level at 750 m distance to piling location. A thorough application of technical mitigation systems is necessary to meet the threshold.
For addressing potential impacts regarding underwater noise with appropriate regulations, national research projects were initiated. These projects support the formation of a solid and effective regulatory framework, which is demonstrably beneficial for the marine environment, albeit a definition of a “good” environmental status is yet to be established and agreed among researchers and policy representatives.
The research project “Assessment approaches for underwater sound monitoring associated with offshore approval procedures, maritime spatial planning and the marine strategy framework directive” on behalf of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency was initiated for specifically focusing on these tasks.
This document provides underlying background information and definition of the thematic setting (chapter 2), a comprehensive describtion of the currently implemented regulatory 4 framework (chapter 3) and of the accompanying environmental monitoring (chapter 4), and outlines the consecutive steps by which the framework was developed and introduced in Germany (chapter 5).