Military use and Natura 2000
It is not possible to exclude the possibility of disruption from military use in or close to Natura 2000 areas in advance. Those effects are primarily to do with movement (vessels and low-flying aircraft) and with noise. Above water, this means noise produced by artillery exercises and by aircraft, underwater this primarily concerns explosions and sonar signals.
Within Ministry of Defence circles it was acknowledged at an early stage that underwater noise could have a disruptive, disorientating and even more serious effect on marine mammals and other marine species. Even before underwater noise was seriously considered as a factor in policy formulation, the Ministry was already working with TNO on exploratory research in this field. The knowledge that arose from this has contributed to the alignment of conditions that have been and are associated in the management plans with military use of the North Sea. In the management plans for Natura 2000 areas on the North Sea, provisions have been incorporated to minimise the effects of disruption due to exercises (artillery or otherwise) above water.