Soldiers on sea?
The Belgian part of the North Sea is regularly used for military activities, such as (planning of exercises):
• shooting exercises from the land towards the sea
• shooting exercises from the sea towards the floating targets
• exercises in laying, searching, sweeping, neutralising and destruction of mines
• extensive mining exercises by NATO member states
Special defence areas
These exercises take place in areas which are designated for this purpose, the defence exercise areas. By demarcating certain areas one can effectively reduce the safety risks to a minimum. Most exercise areas lie far out on the sea, so that the noise pollution to the people is also restricted.
Exercise areas for defence
The Paardenmarkt ... a piece of history
The Paardenmarkt, an area just off the coast of Knokke-Heist is a historic dump site for ammunition from World War I and World War II. There has long been no more military activity in this area. The Ministry of Defence and the Federal Public Service of Health, Safety of Food-chain and Environment carries out the monitoring of the area, so that the situation of the neighbourhood can be closely followed.
Effects on the marine environment
The Ministry of Defence is aware of the environmental problems caused by defence activities. A report on the impact of defence activities on the species and the habitats in the marine environment has been drafted and efforts are under way to minimise the damage and disturbance to the marine environment such as:
• the reduction of disturbance of marine mammals and birds due to noise pollution
the clearing of munitions from World War I and II that still lie on the seabed if it poses a security problem.