@misc{Schmidt, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Schmidt, S{\"o}ren}, title = {Offshore Wind Farms - The new kind of Marine Protected Area for Northern Europe?}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-17490}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {86}, abstract = {This thesis combines the findings of several publications and studies on the influ- ence of offshore wind farms on marine life, in Northern Europe. The properties and characteristics of this offshore wind farm areas were compared to the characteristics of marine protected areas and differences as well as conformities were highlighted. It is evident, that the negative consequences accompanying the implementation of offshore wind farms are less concise, than the public opinion assumes. Although scientific knowledge gaps in multiple related fields for example, the influence of elec- tromagnetic fields on individuals or the influence of noise on benthos species, are present, offshore wind farms offer chances to contribute positive effects for marine life in terms of de facto protected areas and new possibilities for population growth. The planned extensions of offshore wind farms in geographical relation to marine protected areas could enhance the size of protected areas and connect remote ma- rine protected areas with each other.}, language = {en} }