| Abstract |
In this research
project, lasting for three years, a consortium of scientists from the Leibniz
Institute for Baltic Sea Research, the universities of Rostock and Cologne, the
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the Thünen Institute of Baltic
Sea Fisheries, the German Center for Biodiversity Research (DZMB) -
Senckenberg, and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) Potsdam will
investigate the development of benthic ecosystems in marine protected areas of
the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) after cessation of bottom trawl
fishing. Bottom trawling is known to have strong direct and indirect effects on
the diversity of benthic communities, sediment structures and biogeochemical
processes at the sea floor. Additionally, bottom trawling impacts the water
column due to resuspension of sediment and release of nutrients and pollutants.
At present, the habitat types worthy of protection under the
Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive in the Natura 2000 areas of the EEZ are not
excluded from bottom trawl fishing and hence there are hardly any undisturbed
sea floor areas in the German parts of the North and the Baltic Sea. Further,
for the Baltic Sea there exist no comprehensive investigations to estimate the
actual impact of bottom trawling on the ecosystem. As the exclusion of bottom
trawling activities from the Natura 2000 areas is currently planned, this
constitutes an excellent opportunity to assess and follow the development of
these ecosystems and their biodiversity and functions after termination of bottom
trawling. The results of this project will provide a better understanding of
the impacts of bottom trawl fishing in the Baltic Sea and the relevance of
marine protected areas for conservation of benthic communities and sediment
functions.
Phase I until 2023-02-28
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