DEMASK project

Our #DEMASK partners took advantage of the annual #BioacousticsDay2024, this year jointly organised by Wageningen University & Research, Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway and VLIZ - Flanders Marine Institute, to present the latest results of our expert survey to identify the marine species most sensitive to underwater noise in the North Sea. During an hour and a half workshop, we presented our tailored scoring system for invertebrates, fish and marine mammals, and emphasised the importance of considering population-level aggravating factors in addition to direct noise sensitivity factors. We were delighted with the lively feedback and stimulating discussion. Thanks to all participants! Well done team great to see you all there! Joseph G. Schnitzler, Elisabeth Debusschere, Arienne Calonge, Merel den Held, Anna-Sara Krång, Christ de Jong and Jo-Hannes Nowé

Last week #DEMASK participated in the first informal consultation workshop on improving the assessment of the impact of #UnderwaterNoise on noise-sensitive species (ic ws noise impact 1-2024). Representing DEMASK, Christ de Jong (TNO) and Joseph G. Schnitzler joined international experts in Helsinki on September 18, 2024. The workshop, hosted by the HELCOM - Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission and Finland, with support from the Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), brought together delegations from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, and key observers. With shared challenges between the #HELCOM region and the North Sea, our team contributed valuable insights on developing a sensitivity rating system for marine life and harmonizing sound maps to better assess underwater noise impacts. While the workshop was only a day, it reinforced DEMASK's crucial role in this global discussion. This was just the beginning – we’re excited to keep the momentum going! Want to know more about this and other projects? Sign up for our newsletter via: https://lnkd.in/eXGdviDB

Thank you Jesse Skolnik for the collaboration and visualisation of our #UnderwaterNoise project. It has made quite a positive and colourful impact to our internal and external communication.

Niels Kinneging, project manager of DEMASK, presented the project at the conference on the Effects of Sound on Marine Mammals (ESOMM) in The Hague/Scheveningen in The Netherlands. At the conference more than 100 leading specialists on underwater sound and marine mammals from science, governments and industry met. They discussed recent developments in research and marine policy. The DEMASK project was received very well for its novel approach to policy development on underwater noise.  

Vote for quieter sees so our animals can survive! Jomopans, a project that has put the topic of underwater noise on the map and the reason #DEMASK project exists, is a finalist for the prestigious REGIOSTARS Awards.   From 2018 to 2022 our enthusiastic team of specialists from 11 organisations around the North Sea, worked on the Jomopans project (Joint Monitoring of Ambient Noise in the North Sea). This accomplishment has received a wide recognition and finally resulted in becoming a finalist.   Cast your vote here: https://bit.ly/47cEQpz The award knows five prizes for relevant categories and one public’s prize. Everyone can vote for the public’s prize from 2 September till 9 October. Learn more about the #DEMASK project: https://lnkd.in/eXGdviDB

#DEMASK has hit another project milestone. We've organised three group sessions in May and June with key project stakeholders to discuss which scenarios should be analysed in the project with regard to the effects on #underwaternoise.  Stakeholders from the Shipping, Ports and Offshore Wind Energy industries plus policy makers were able to share their knowledge, perspectives and expectations on these scenarios. We thank everyone that was involved and attributed to our project goals. Want to read about the group sessions outcome or learn more about #DEMASK - go to our website: https://lnkd.in/eXGdviDB Also special thanks to our project partners: Rijkswaterstaat, Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency), TNO, TIHO, IVL, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, VLIZ - Flanders Marine Institute, JASCO Applied Sciences, Stichting De Noordzee and MM - Interreg North Sea