More space for birds and fish on Mokkebank

To give the area a boost, two wetlands have been created, full of diversity and with a natural water level. There will also be a fish passage here. These modifications give space for fish to spawn. Young fish can grow here and then move to the IJsselmeer. This improves fish stocks. The wetlands provide an attractive habitat for birds such as common terns, ospreys and bitterns.

Chris Packer, Deputy Director of It Fryske Gea: “The Frisian coast of the IJsselmeer is the natural edge of the IJsselmeer. With this project, we are creating more space for fish to breed and grow. We are also creating more reed beds, where the rare reed warblers can breed. This is important for the entire IJsselmeer. We will create an additional walking path and move the bird hide to a place where there will be more to see, so that visitors can experience the area in its entirety.”

Manon Tentig, Head of Protection at Vogelbescherming Nederland, explains the importance of these area modifications: “Hundreds of thousands of birds depend on this large freshwater lake. The project is a huge help to the birds, providing more space and food for vulnerable species such as the Greater Reed Warbler and the Common Tern. So we are very pleased to start this collaborative project now and look forward to a sustainable partnership.“

An exclusive look at the region

Fryske Gea organised a tour of the area this afternoon. Especially for those interested in the area. Chris Bakker, Deputy Director, and Germ van der Burg, Head of It Fryske Gea, spoke about the measures that will soon be implemented and about the special flora and fauna that can be found in this area. Excursions for local residents, association members and other interested parties will follow later this summer.

Strengthening the Frisian Coast IJsselmeer

The improvements to the Mokkebank area are part of the IJsselmeer Frisian Coast Enhancement Project. This is a collaboration between the government and the region. At the regional level, this involves cooperation between the province of Fryslaan, the municipality of Sødwest Fryslaan, the municipality of De Fryslaan and the municipality of Et Fryslaan. These organisations are committed to increasing water safety, reducing flood risks and improving environmental water quality. The project in Mokkebank was jointly developed and financed by Bird Protection Netherlands. In addition, these improvements were made possible with the support of the national postal lottery for the Meer IJsselmeer project in Vogelbescherming Nederland.

For more information about the Frisian coast of the IJsselmeer, visit: www.frieseijsselmeerkust.frl.