Foundation information

Foundation 'ZeeInZicht' (SeaOnSreen.org) brings underwater nature closer to you

Marine underwater nature

Despite rising attention for marine nature, politicians and the wider public still aren't very interested in its protection. Nowadays nature management intends to give people optimal joy of protected nature. Nature has to serve people, and nature conservation creates a product for a broad public. If it doesn't, it will lack interest, and financial or other necessary measures.

But how do we let people enjoy the underwater nature of the North Sea? And how do we make sure they are aware of the necessity to handle it with care?

seaonscreen.org

The Royal NIOZ, Wageningen IMARES, North Sea Foundation and Ecomare, in collaboration with NAM, initiated a foundation with the aim of:

'bringing underwater nature closer to public and politicians, and to improve the awareness of the need for protection of this invisible nature'.

Foundation 'ZeeInZicht'

On the internet, the foundation therefore offers (real time) images and information materials on various aspects of marine nature like underwater images, underwater sound, tracking seals with satellite transmitters and various other information.
The members of the foundation 'ZeeInZicht': Royal NIOZ, IMARES, North Sea Foundation, Ecomare, NIOO, VLIZ (Belgium) and NAM, invite all interested parties to participate actively in the foundation.

Nature reserve in sea

An effect of a mining installation at sea is that it serves as a nature reserve, as has been suggested by TV program NOVA. Underwater images show the algae growth and marine life on and around the legs of a platform. A clear zoning can be seen from the undeep to the deep, showing big numbers of mussels in the top zone and large quantities of anemones in the deeper parts of the platform legs. A lot of fish and North Sea crabs seek food and refuge around the legs of a platform.

See an example video-image of a platform-leg. 

Underwater images of algae growth and visiting fish

Platforms serve as an ideal base for making underwater images and for modern communication techniques, to be able to show the public the actual underwater nature. Video images can be shown on the website. Webcams can be installed on suitable platforms and future wind parks, showing the rich life around the platform legs and the surrounding seabed. The images will be transmitted directly via the webpage.

Where are the seals?
By providing seals with satellite transmitters their migration can be followed perfectly. Research on seals from the Oosterschelde area shows they sometimes travel to England and Denmark. Migration routes of a number of seals are shown.

The sound of sea mammals
Although we know the number of harbour porpoises in the Dutch part of the North Sea is at least 10,000, we hardly know anything about the migration of this characteristic North Sea animal. The aim is to record the sounds of sea mammals with hydrophones from suitable platforms. Click the right field and you will be able to hear these sounds from your computer at home.

Are you interested as a partner, contributor or user?

For information contact:   info@ZeeInZicht.nl