Shelf and coastal systems: Investigations on fish assemblages in small defined areas in the North Sea to assess the anthropogenic influence on marine ecosystems (e.g. offshore windfarms).
Description:
Since 1987, a bottom fish survey has been carried out to monitor changes in fish assemblages in 12 small defined areas of 100nm² (boxes) distributed over the whole North Sea. At the same time, water temperature, salinity and additionally nutrients, sediment and benthic invertebrates were measured or sampled. This small-scale and simultaneous sampling of different variables allows the determination of quantitative relationships between fish and benthos. The derived data are important basic input for a model to manage fisheries by an integrated advice. Furthermore, these data can also be used to determine changes in the North Sea fish fauna due to climate change, to eutrophication or to anthropogenic activities like fisheries, sand and gravel extraction and offshore windfarms. As this activity also includes the commercially important bottom fishes, the data can also be used in multispecies assessment models to calculate the total allowable catches within the frame of a sustainable use of the marine resources. Working groups / Conferences: ICES Annual Science Conference, ACOM Cruises: annually 2 cruises 'Walther Herwig III' (GSBTS) and 3 cruises 'Solea' (GSBTS and parts of BTS)
Executive Institute:
Institute of Sea Fisheries (TI-SF) Details of Institute of Sea Fisheries
Parent institution:
Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut - Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries (TI) Details of (TI) (Lower Saxony)
Contract period:
01. 01. 2001 - 01. 12. 2013
Participating Institutions:
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg Details of Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Funding Programme:
- BMELV / Core funding Details of BMELV / Core funding
Subject:
- Climate Change
Purpose of research:
Applied research
Funding Institutions:
- Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) Details of (BMELV)
Project Management Agency:
- Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) Details of BMELV