Examples
Usecases for the tool
Ferry route to Ameland
The ferry route to Ameland is under increasing pressure because of the siltation of channels that need to be kept open by significant dredging, which is harmful to the biodiversity of the area. A possible solution is to move the ferry port on the mainland to Ferwert, about 7 kilometers west of the existing ferry port in Holwert. From Ferwert, ferries can then use the Dantziggat, a much wider and deeper shipping channel than the current route. The new route would require approximately 25 hectares less dredging work, which would reduce the maintenance costs of the shipping channel by roughly half. However, the new route runs close to a large salt marsh, seal moorings, foraging areas for birds and mussel beds.
Our biodiversity tool makes it possible to assess the biodiversity loss along the new route and to monitor the gain in biodiversity after the dredging has ceased along the old route.
Banned fishing grounds
Shrimp fishing involves dragging a large, fine-mesh net across the seabed to catch shrimp. But many more animals are caught: about sixty percent is by-catch; and goes overboard again. The bycatch is released again, but many animals do not survive. For this reason, parts of the Wadden Sea are regularly closed to shrimp fishing to allow nature restoration in the Wadden Sea. There is such a rich biodiversity in the Wadden Sea that makes a major contribution to our nature. Our tool enables to monitor the biodiversity in specific areas. This will support decisions on banning and on monitoring the nature restoration as a result of the ban.
