The research program Ecology and North Sea (E&N) focuses on the interaction between ecology and the physical aspects of wind farms on the Dutch part of the North Sea, and is part of the thematic programming of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). The program E&N is initiated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality with the aim to develop knowledge across the entire chain and to provide an action perspective for policy, implementation and practice. 

The NWA program supports three projects that are implemented by interdisciplinary consortia:

• Effects of windfarms on the marine ecosystem, and implications for governance - Main applicant: dr. ir. Johan van der Molen (NIOZ).
• Acoustic ecology of pelagic fish communities (APELAFICO): a study into the effects of construction and operation of wind farms - Main applicant:
  dr. Hans Slabbekoorn (Leiden University).
• Footprint: effects of offshore wind farms on sediments in the Coastal North Sea - Main applicant: prof. dr. Karline Soetaert (NIOZ).

More information can be found on the website of the program Ecology and North Sea.