A five year exercise programme in the Netherlands

Sea Alarm recently has started work on a five year contract with Rijkswaterstaat, the Netherlands, to assist with the coordination, development and management of an exercise programme on oiled wildlife response and preparedness in the Netherlands. This programme has been designed in connection to the integrated wildlife response plan that was signed in 2009 by Rijkswaterstaat and a multitude of stakeholders, including the responsible Ministries, the bird rehabilitation organisations, scientific institutions and all coastal municipalities. The exercise programme aims to train the various stakeholders in their mutual cooperation and includes communication exercises, table tops, field exercises and individual exercises for key personnel in the wildlife branch. For example, practical exercises can involve construction of a functional temporary rehabilitation centre from tents within 48 hours and near to the most affected beaches. Sea Alarm’s role will be to design, plan and manage these exercises in close cooperation with Rijkswaterstaat, and organise an annual meeting for all stakeholders.