The BSH carries out the preliminary investigation in the North Sea in order to assess the suitability of land for the construction of offshore wind farms and to prepare them for a state tender. To this end, the marine environment must be examined, among other things. The tender here is the two-year examination of the benthos and the up to two-year examination of the fish according to the standard examination concept (StUK4). The investigations concern the area N-14.1 according to the preliminary draft of the BSH's area development plan of 01 September 2023 in the EEZ of the North Sea, on which separate campaigns are to be run for the protected assets benthos (infauna and epifauna) and fish. The study program includes investigations of the epifauna and fish fauna with a beam trawl as well as the infauna with prehension. The results of the investigation will have to be documented in area-related reports.

Implementation of benthic investigations based on the standard investigation concept "Investigation of the effects of offshore wind turbines on the marine environment" (StUK4) on the area N-14.1 as well as a reference area in three campaigns each: Autumn Campaign 2025 (within the period 01.09. to 30.11.2025); Spring campaign 2026 (within the period 01/04 to 31/05/2026); Autumn campaign 2026 (within the period 01/09 to 30/11/2026). Implementation of fish investigations based on the standard investigation concept "Investigation of the effects of offshore wind turbines on the marine environment" (StUK4) on the area N-14.1 as well as a reference area in an initial autumn campaign 2025 (within the period 01.09. to 30.11.2025). After reviewing the catch results, the contracting authority shall decide whether the fish inspections will be terminated or continued with the spring 2026 campaign (within the period 01/04 to 31/05/2026) and/or the autumn 2026 campaign (within the period 01/09 to 30/11/2026). The investigations include in detail: epifauna survey with 2-meter beam trawl, 15 hols per campaign per study area and reference area. Infauna investigation with the Van Veen grapple, sampling of 30 stations of 3 grippers per study area and reference area per campaign. Fish fauna survey with the 7-meter beam trawl, 25 towing routes per campaign per area, each with parallel starboard and port hollows) per study area and reference area. If required, video examination of the epifauna, macrophytes and biotope structure, up to 5 video transects per campaign and area, and biological validation of suspected areas according to BfN mapping instructions. The results of the investigation for benthos are to be summarised and evaluated in a total of two reports: an interim report for the area after completion of the second campaign (submission 30.09.2026) and a final report for the area after completion of all three campaigns (submission 15.03.2027). The test results for fish are to be summarised and evaluated in one, as required in two reports: One report for the area after completion of the first campaign (submission 31.01.2026). If the client's interim evaluation shows that a continuation of the investigations is necessary, a final report will be prepared for the area after completion of all three campaigns (submission 15.03.2027). The reports must include a population characterisation, a description of the previous pressures, a population assessment and a qualitative impact prognosis (description of the pathways) for the protected assets sediment, infauna, epifauna, fish and biotopes. The templates contained in the tender documents for this purpose serve to estimate the content and scope of the reports, the final structure as well as detailed questions of content are determined in the course of the execution of the contract. The BSH examines all reports, and revisions must be scheduled. The final versions of all final reports will be translated into English by the contractor. The translated final reports of area N-14.1 must be submitted to the contracting authority by 31.08.2027 at the latest. The project ends with the acceptance of the translated final reports on 15.11.2027 at the latest. The respective study areas cover the FEP areas with central preliminary investigation and the auction year 2028. Further details on the study area as well as on the data sets and data volumes to be merged can be found in the enclosed service description. The services to be provided are divided into 2 service levels and must be completed as described above. Due to legal obligations arising from the WindSeeG, compliance with the contract deadline is a very high priority for the client.