Environmental data from the Fehmarnbelt on the internet

During the investigation period Femern A/S has gained a lot of information that will be assessed and form part of the final Environmental Impact Assessment. Even if the process is not yet finished, much of the data from the investigations is already available on the internet.

In summer the scope of the environmental investigations was presented to and discussed with authorities and environmental organisations in Denmark, Germany and the other Baltic Sea states. The authorities are currently reviewing the comments on the environmental investigation programme obtained during the hearing period.  Responses have been received from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Poland.

Femern A/S’ environmental consultants are expected to compile the final data of the status quo for the comprehensive environmental programme at the turn of the year 2010 - 2011 as planned. This data will then form the basis for the then following assessment of the data.

The numerous pieces of data from the environmental investigations will subsequently be compiled and evaluated to form the basis of the EIA which Femern A/S will prepare in 2011.

”Under our transparency policy, we regularly present primary environmental data on the internet so that all stakeholders can follow developments,” explains Anders Jensen, Environmental Manager, Femern A/S. ”It is now possible, for instance, to follow the routes of tagged porpoises and certain bird species.”

Satellite tracking of harbour porpoises
As part of the environmental studies, nine porpoises were caught in inner Danish waters and tagged with satellite transmitters. The movements of these porpoises can be followed on the harbour porpoise trackit website. On the website, please choose the ID number of the porpoise you want to follow and press "update".

Bird telemetry studies
Another website is dedicated to the presentation of bird telemetry studies conducted in connection with planning and construction of the fixed link. Telemetry offers tools which allow scientists to collect data on bird behaviour and habitats, i.e. when searching for food. It is also used to study how birds move in the Fehmarnbelt area locally and during long-range seasonal migration.

On the bird study site, operated by DHI for Femern A/S, you can follow the movements of individual birds tagged with satellite or radio transmitters as well as with GPS loggers.

Water and weather
Yet another site, operated by DHI for Femern A/S, offers an operational forecast service on water and weather conditions in the Fehmarnbelt area. The 120 hour forecasts are updated twice daily whereas measurements are included continuously. The forecasts are based on high resolution 3D hydrodynamic forecasts and wave forecasts using high resolution meteorological forecasts.

You can find the forecasts here.

Further information about the environmental investigations can be found at www.femernenvironment.com.