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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).
Project
Project code: vTI-SF-08-22
Contract period: 01.01.2001
- 01.12.2013
Purpose of research: Applied research
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)
Section overview
Subjects
- Climate Change