Duration: 6. to 24. June 2025

Cruise area: Baltic Sea (German Baltic coast)

Purpose: Investigation of benthic and demersal fish communities

The trip consists of two sections: Since 2003, the Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries has been carrying out regular surveys that provide information on long-term changes in the demersal fish fauna (fish living near the seabed) off the German Baltic Sea coast. This information is required for spatial planning, nature conservation and measures for the sustainable management of fish stocks within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and is currently included in the assessment and evaluation of the good environmental status of German Baltic Sea waters as part of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

The current analyses show different fish communities, particularly in the hydrographically very different areas in the west and east of the German Baltic Sea waters. The long-term investigations in these areas will therefore be continued as in previous years. In addition, oceanographic measurements are being carried out with the aid of a CTD probe (measuring device for conductivity, temperature and depth) in order to examine the extent to which the occurrence of fish depends on these measured variables. Optionally, depending on the authorisation, areas in the Baltic Eagle wind farm will be investigated (1st section).

The second section is part of the pilot mission "Protected areas of the Baltic Sea - Effects of the exclusion of mobile bottom-touching fisheries (MGF) in marine protected areas" funded by the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). The aim is to record the effects of the exclusion of MGF in the Natura 2000 areas of the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea. To this end, the benthic (bottom-dwelling) and demersal fish fauna will be recorded using 3-metre beam trawls and underwater video stations. Oceanographic measurements will be carried out as well.