Institute of

SF Sea Fisheries

Projects

Below you will find a list of all our ongoing projects at the Institute of Sea Fisheries.

If you are interested in both the ongoing as well the completed projects, split by fields of activity, follow the links below.

Ongoing projects

A physical-statistical model of hydrography for fishery and ecology studies (AHOI)

AHOI (Adjusted Hydrography Optimal Interpolation) is a simple physical-statistical model developed in the working group 'Operational Observation Systems' of the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries to produce monthly gridded in situ hydrography through various decades. Special care is given to a high vertical resolution, in order to yield a good representation of the near-seabed hydrography due to its importance for marine ecosystems. As a case study we produced monthly maps of temperature and salinity in the North Sea from 1948 to 2013. This study has been published in Journal of Marine ...

Achieving Good Environmental Status by Assessing Impacts of Cumulative Pressures

Das GES4SEAS Projekt hat zum Ziel Meerespolitik zu informieren und anzuleiten, um menschliche Belastungen und ihre Auswirkungen auf die biologische Vielfalt und Ökosystemfunktionen der Meere zu minimieren und gleichzeitig die nachhaltige Bereitstellung von Ökosystemleistungen zu gewährleisten.

Alternative Crangon added value (AKW)

The North Sea shrimps (Crangon crangon) caught on the North Sea coast are today mainly shelled by hand in Morocco. We are investigating the possibilities of using a new mechanical shrimp peeling technique for regional processing and marketing of the shrimp.

Analyses of fishery effort in German fishing fleets

The project aims at a better understanding of the relationship between fisheries and population dynamics of fish stocks in order to better predict and justify the necessity of fleet capacity adjustment measures

Assessment of pelagic fish stocks in the North Sea and North Atlantic

Data on population parameters of pelagic fish stocks (herring, mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting and sprat) in the North Sea and North Atlantic are combined with catch records and landings statistics and provide input for the fish stock assessments of ICES. The results of these calculations serve as a basis for sustainable fisheries management.

Automated fish age reading and analysis of growth patterns using deep learning

In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence has increased massively in various disciplines. Can this technology also be applied in fisheries science? This question is to be clarified in a PhD project.

Bioeconomy Monitoring II

- What has biomass use in Germany developed? - How important are import commodities for German bioeconomy and what effects do they have in the countries of origin? - We will address these and further questions in the project.

Biological Oceanography

Factors such as temperature, salinity, oxygen, and oceanic currents shape the environmental conditions of marine life and directly or indirectly impact marine ecosystems. In this project, we aim to understand and quantify these impacts and use climatic trends to predict future changes in marine life.

Climate Change and Future Marine Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity (FutureMARES)

Climate change has negative impacts on marine ecosystems, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Which adaptation strategies to climate change using nature based solutions are possible, to reduce the negative impacts on marine ecosystems?

Collection of economic data of the fish processing industry

As part of the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF), we collect economic data of the German aquaculture.

Development of customized dynamic diversity criteria for the long-term use of European marine ecosystems (B-USEFUL)

Putting Europe’s threatened marine biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030 requires well informed science advice and operational decision-support tools allowing end-users to formulate management plans and evaluate the effectiveness of conservation actions for biodiversity protection, notably with regard to the placement, size and number of marine protected areas (MPAs). This is in order to protect “hotspots” of biodiversity and vulnerable ecosystems, while ensuring their capacity to provide services vital to society and human wellbeing (e.g., food provision and climate regulation).

Development of physical measurement methods for non-invasive in-situ detection of plankton and fish

Within the scope of this project, hydroacoustic and optical instruments and methods will be used jointly and further developed to enable the continuous, automated, hogh-resolution and non-invasive recording of marine organisms in their natural environment. Furthermore, we aim to extend the understanding of the functional relationships of organisms of different trophic levels (e.g. fish and zooplankton) as well as potential behavioural patterns such as the vertical migration of individual species.

Enhancement of multi-species assessment models

This research activity will enhance multi-species models (improved diet selection models and recruitment models) to enable best possible projections of stocks developments. This will contribute to a sustainable harvest of fish stocks inside an ecosystem approach. Not only fisheries influence fish stocks but also predation and other environmental factors.

Exclusion of mobile bottom-fishing in the German Natura 2000 areas (MGF Nordsee)

What happens to habitats and communities when commercial fishing stops? This important but largely unanswered question is the focus of this research project.

Fish & fisheries in numbers - the Data Collection Framework

The Data Collection Framework (DCF), co-funded by the EU, allows Member States to collect fisheries data relevant for the sustainable management of fish stocks.

Fisheries economics in numbers

As part of the EU Data Collection Framework (DCF), each Member State is obliged to collect economic data of its fishing fleet.

Future Forum Coastal Fisheries 2045

What are the perspectives for German coastal fisheries in long-terms? This central question arises, when facing the crisis of German fisheries in the Baltic Sea or considering the current developments of Marine Spatial Planning and other issues in the North Sea.

Future Scenarious for Sustainable Marine Ecosystems of Contested Marine Areas (CoastalFutures)

In "CoastalFutures", we elaborate science-based concepts for sustainable management of coasts, marine ecosystems and their resources. We develop an innovative model system to test future use scenarios and support analyses of possible management options.

Helping to implement a WASCAL master research program "Climate change and Marine Sciences" at Mindelo / Cabo Verde (WASCAL TI-CCMS)

Climate change poses a significant challenge to African societies within the next decades. Direct effects such as droughts and water shortages will be amplified through increased economic and population growth. To combat climate change effects and maintain the livelihoods of the peoples is thus the major aim of WASCAL. Marine resources will play a significant role in the future supply of protein for human nutrition in West Africa.

Hydroacoustics - Methods, Applications, Development

Hydroacoustic methods utilize sound waves to detect marine organisms. Modern echosounders can not only be used to determine stock parameters but also allow identification of habitat use, species composition and further parameters of marine ecosystems.

Impact of the use of offshore wind and other marine renewables on European fisheries

What is the general impact of the development of marine renewables on the European fishing sector? In our study we will answer this question, highlight pathways for possible co-existence solutions and research gaps and provide concluding policy recommendations.

Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework directive (MSFD)

As holistic approach, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive poses a challenge to the scientific community: How to describe the state of the marine environment with 11 descriptors? We develop indicators, techniques in risk assessments, and integrated assessment frameworks.

Migration behaviour of tope (HTTP)

It is the largest shark found permanently in German waters and is globally classified as "critically endangered": the tope. Tagging experiments with satellite transmitters in the North Sea will provide information on the migratory behaviour of the animals and thus allow a reliable assessment of the distribution of the sharks and their population development.

Oceanographic baseline monitoring: collection and provision of hydrographic data from the North Atlantic (OCEBASE)

The hydrographic conditions in the oceans, which signifcantly influence different fish habitats, vary over wide ranges of spatial and temporal scales based on a number of different physical processes. The Thünen Institute for Sea Fisheries conducts long-term observation programmes to regularly record and monitor the hydrographic parameters and make them available for further analyses.

Re-thinking aquatic production systems

The sector with the highest employment and turnover in the fish and seafood industry is the processing industry and wholesale. The majority of German fish catches already come from few high sea vessels and the vast majority of domestic consumption is imported. Which environmentally friendly production systems of fish and seafood will still pay off in Germany in the future and what structural change potentials are there? This is our guiding question, which we address in inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation between human and natural scientists as well as with environmental and business ...

Risk assessment in fisheries management

Why does fisheries managment sometimes fail? Conduction of risk analyses on various aspects of fisheries management can help to answer this question.

Scientific advice in support of the common fisheries policy

In implementing the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the EU Commission obtains scientific advice and awards individual specific contracts (studies). For this purpose, the EU Commission has concluded a framework contract with two large project consortia, covering topics for the Baltic and North Sea and the North Atlantic (SANoBA), but also other EU waters in the North-East Atlantic and outer regions such as Madeira or the Azores (SAF EU).

Shaping Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (SEAwise)

The wish for an ecosystem based fisheries managment is omnipresent. However, potential approaches still lack implementation in Europe. In the project SEAwise we want to change this.

Shedding light on the South Atlantic: a status assessment (TRIATLAS)

Scientists from Europe, Brazil and southern Africa are comprehensively investigating the current state, driving forces and potential future of South Atlantic regions.

Structural Change in Coastal Fisheries

Coastal fisheries change. Reduced catch opportunities put enormous economic pressure on the fishers. Thereby, fisheries are not exclusively a business. Fisheries is a centuries old cultural practice, which characterises coastal communities until now.

Studies on fish eggs and larvae

Knowledge on the strength of the recruiting year class of a fish stock is of tremendous importance for sustainable mangement. Successful reproduction and foraging of fry are of essential importance for the further development of the stock.

Sufficient offspring for brown shrimp?

Brown shrimp fishery is from the economic point of view the most important fishery in Germany. Our research aims to develop a sustainable and ecologically sound fishery.

Sustainable exploitation of North Sea and North Atlantic fish stocks

As contracting party of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and EU Member State, Germany is obliged to submit national data to the scientific fish stock assessment working groups of ICES and other European organisations.

Synthesis of methods for assessing connectivity in a network of protected areas (CREATE)

In CREATE, we use so-called ‘living labs’ in the North and Baltic Seas, in which we develop concepts for sustainable use and protection together with stakeholders. In these model regions, the jointly defined approaches can be subjected to a practical test.

The demography of fishes

Age composition data for fish stocks are essential input parameters for stock assessment. It is therefore necessary to permanently develop age determination methodology further.

Transdisciplinary science for effective ecosystem-based maritime spatial planning (MarinePlan)

One of the key challenges of our time is to prevent the loss of biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems, while enabling their use by those who depend on their services, goods and benefits. In Europe, maritime spatial planning is one of the most important management processes for integrating nature conservation and sustainable use. This requires tools and knowledge to coordinate maritime spatial planning and the designation of marine protected areas, which are currently often lacking, especially with regard to transboundary coordination and connectivity.

What are they? And how many are they?

Youngfish in German coastal waters

The shallow waters of the German Bight and Wadden Sea serve as nursery grounds for several commercially important fish species. Annual abundance and growth assessments of youngfish allow for a first indication of the level of incoming catches in future years.

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