36 
Part B - Technical instructions 
Table 4.2: Investigations of habitat use. 
Baseline study 
Construction phase 
Operation phase 
Objectives 
Assessment of the spatial 
and seasonal habitat use of 
harbour porpoises and 
classification of project area 
within the total spatial and 
seasonal context. 
Survey of influence of 
noise intensive construc 
tion work on the spatial 
and seasonal habitat use 
of harbour porpoises (as 
far as quantifiable) and 
classification of the project 
area within the total spatial 
and seasonal context. 
Assessment of spatial and 
seasonal habitat use of har 
bour porpoises (as far as 
quantifiable) in the vicinity 
of wind turbines and classi 
fication of the project area 
within the total spatial and 
seasonal context. 
Scope 
One POD station per project. At least 2 POD stations, if the project is in the vicinity 
(< 20 km) of a protected area of significance to harbour porpoises. The release posi 
tion must be co-ordinated with the BSH. 
To avoid potential dis 
placement effects during 
noise intensive construc 
tion work, 4-5 stationary 
individual PODs should be 
installed in suitable distan 
ces to the wind turbines 
and depending on the 
actually emitted degree of 
underwater noise. 
For the purpose of rando 
mised control of efficiency 
during noise intensive pile 
driving works, 2 mobile 
single PODs should be ins 
talled in 750 m and in 
1,500 m distance to the 
pile driving location for a 
duration of 24 h (according 
to the windfarm’s license 
provisions). 
Depending on the wind 
farm size, at least 3 statio 
nary single PODs should be 
installed within the wind 
farm. 
Timing 
At least two consecutive 
complete seasonal cycles 
prior to the start of const 
ruction. 
Throughout the entire con 
struction phase. 
At least three years, up to 
five years if required, after 
commissioning. 
Method 
The same equipment standard (C-POD, chelonia.co.uk) must be used for all measure 
ment positions throughout the entire measurement period to ensure comparability of 
data. 
Calibration: 
• The PODs must be calibrated before and after installation to ensure data quality. 
The POD calibration results must be taken into account in data evaluation (see pro 
cess instruction p. 66). 
POD station: 
• To minimise data loss, 3 single PODs should be installed in one POD station (see 
fig. 11, p. 66). Depending on water depth, the measurement devices of one POD 
station should be anchored above ground at the following heights. All devices must 
be basically installed at the same water depth throughout the entire measurement 
period: 
Depth zone 0-20 m: 3 PODs at mean water depth 
Depth zone > 20 m: 2 PODs at 7-10 m and 1 POD at mean water depth.