Follow-up measurement plan electromagnetic fields

In late 2023, Rijkswaterstaat gave the green light for a challenging assignment: defining a measurement plan to reduce the knowledge gap regarding the impact of electromagnetic fields on marine life. ‘Little is known about the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on marine life. As a result, policymakers do not know how to handle the risks,’ says Annemiek Hermans, biological oceanographer and marine ecology project manager. ‘Cable guides and the habitat of sensitive species sometimes overlap. With the increasing number of offshore wind farms, it is valuable and important to increase our knowledge on the subject, as it helps in making the right choices.’

The assignment is a follow-up to an earlier study, in which we examined whether EMFs should have a place in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.