Objectives

The establishment of a Scientific Interest Group is a commitment measure under the Dieppe Le Tréport offshore wind farm project. With the prefectural decrees authorising the construction of the latter, the creation of the Éolien en Mer SIG was formally established with three main objectives.

The aims of the SIG are to support the implementation and monitor the effectiveness of the Avoidance, Reduction and Compensation (ARC) measures planned under the Dieppe Le Tréport wind farm project, to improve knowledge of the marine environment in the eastern English Channel area and to disseminate the conclusions of the studies among the scientific community and the general public.

As such, it is mainly intended:

To issue opinions on the protocols and monitoring reports on the effectiveness of the Avoidance, Reduction and Compensation measures planned under the Dieppe Le Tréport offshore wind farm project;
To encourage, coordinate and finance the development of research carried out mainly by SIG Partners, particularly interdisciplinary research, in the Eastern English Channel area;
To increase visibility and stimulate interest, particularly among the international scientific community, in the research developed in this study area;
To promote the activities and work mentioned above among citizens and the general public, in connection with the Local Offshore Wind Energy Information Office to be set up by Éoliennes en Mer Dieppe Le Tréport.

The management and scientific coordination of the studies are developed within the following areas:

Physics, chemistry and quality of water and sediments;
Benthic habitats and communities;
Fishery resources and other demersal and pelagic communities;
Marine megafauna including marine mammals, birds and bats;
The marine ecosystem as a whole and the relationships between the different components of the marine ecosystem;
Socio-economic issues and the perception of civil society;
Any topic that cuts across the areas listed below and encourages interdisciplinary projects.