Work method statement project Win-Wind to catch brown crab and lobster in Princess Amalia Offshore Wind Park 2023

The main goals of this work method statement (WMS) is to inform all involved parties on the work method and to be reference document for the contract between the State of The Netherlands, Eneco and the consortium Win-Wind for the pilot study of catching lobsters and crabs in the Eneco operated Princess Amalia Wind-Park (PAWP). The consortium Win-Wind has been funded to do research on the possibilities to do feasibility experiments on passive fisheries with pots and cages in Offshore Windfarms (OWFs). This pilot study focuses purely on i) obtaining biological information on the populations of brown crab and European lobster and thereby ii) gaining experience with passive fisheries with cages in an OWF. Six strings of 5 cages (Figure 1) will be deployed at specified locations (Figure 2).. This WMS presents detailed information about the scope of work like nature of the activities, actions, the planning of the trips, description of the several steps and the planning of the trips. This section gives a short, concise overview. Chapter 4 will elaborate the different stages into detail: In short the following phases can be distinguished (NB: the same systematics and nomenclature will be used throughout the entire document). 1. Vessel and crew requirements: e.g. Adaptation vessel to required standards. 2. Pre-operational phase: e.g. Pre-operation communication with Eneco, obtaining Permit to Access, apply check list. 3. Vessel mobilization: prepare ship for departure, e.g. bringing heavy equipment onboard at quayside. 4. Boarding & disembarking vessel: crew boards ship etc. 5. Travel on vessel: all actions involved in sailing on sea in an offshore environment. 6. Entering PAWP: the implications of being present in PAWP. 7. Deployment of the strings: setting fishing strings overboard, placing them in service. 8. Presence of the fishing strings in the park: the implications of strings, ropes, dahns and buoys being present in PAWP. 9. Hauling of the fishing strings: strings are pulled up and inspected for the content (crabs and lobsters). 10. Cage and animal handling, measurements and tagging on board, animal release: strings with cages are pulled onboard. The content of the cages is gathered in bongo’s. The animals are measured, tagged and released. 11. General: overview of remaining actions and topics that are not covered in the categories of activities listed in this synopsis.