Credits: Klaudie Bartelink

Strengthening nature through sustainable energy

WE CONNECT

Collaborating with the offshore sector, NGOs, government, and researchers to strengthen North Sea marine life.

WE INSPIRE

Driving change internationally through knowledge-sharing and motivating others to join our efforts.

WE TAKE ACTION

Learning by doing for long-term impact. We use hands-on research and monitoring to find real solutions for nature restoration.

What does The Rich North Sea do?

Powering nature’s comeback together

The North Sea’s natural environment is under pressure. Overfishing, climate change, and disease have wiped out nearly all the region’s natural reefs. While the expansion of offshore wind energy increases this pressure, it also opens new possibilities. Wind farms offer a rare opportunity to enhance biodiversity, as fishing is prohibited in these areas. That’s where The Rich North Sea steps in.  

Through hands-on, innovative methods, we show how nature-enhancing measures in offshore wind farms can help restore ecosystems. By proving that energy transition and nature restoration can work together, we inspire others to take action. We share our knowledge, connect stakeholders, and spread our message locally and internationally. 

…And we do this because the beautiful Rich North Sea deserves our care. 

Learn about our approach

Our international impact

Our impact goes beyond Dutch waters. We work with partners across the North Sea and beyond to develop methods for strengthening marine ecosystems. Our findings are shared in the Toolbox: a practical resource for anyone working on marine nature enhancement projects, filled with real-world knowledge from across the globe. 

By collaborating across borders, we can speed up progress toward the global recovery of our oceans. 

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Our impact

Five offshore wind farms

We’re collaborating with wind energy companies like Vattenfall and Eneco to strengthen ecosystems in offshore wind farms. Marine life is already making a comeback, proving we’re on the right track toward a healthier, more vibrant North Sea. 

Healthy flat oysters

Oysters are heroes of the underwater world: they build reefs, filter water, recycle nutrients, store carbon, and attract other marine species. Through our oyster cultivation line, we have successfully bred parasite-free flat oysters. Thousands of these oysters have been released into the sea and are closely monitored to assess their reproduction and the formation of new oyster reefs. 

The Toolbox

Knowledge-sharing is essential to accelerate large-scale action. That’s why we developed the Toolbox, an interactive platform filled with hands-on insights and lessons learned about nature-enhancing measures at sea. There you can learn all about marine nature enhancements, discover real projects, and get practical steps to start your own nature enhancement project. 

Our projects

Discover the offshore locations where we collaborate with partners on nature-enhancing initiatives.
View all our projects

Gemini

This project aims to build a 5-hectare oyster bank at Gemini Offshore Wind Farm and study the oysters' growth, survival, reproduction, and settlement over time.

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Blauwwind

Oyster populations need rebuilding. This project explores whether oysters can reproduce and establish on shell and stone substrates around wind turbines.

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Eneco Luchterduinen

We're uncovering the best conditions for oysters to thrive in offshore wind farms, proving that renewable energy and marine restoration can go hand in hand.

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Build a healthier sea with us

By joining forces and sharing knowledge, we can make real progress. Want to help build a resilient North Sea with us? Learn more about how we work with our partners.
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