Cruisereports 2023

 

Clupea 374

The aim of the journey 374 with FFS Clupea, which took place from January 16 to February 3, 2023, is to record the changes in the demersal and benthic fish fauna in the Natura 2000 areas of the German EEZ of the Baltic Sea after the exclusion of mobile bottom-contact fishing gear. For this purpose, survey areas in the Natura 2000 sites are fished and compared with comparable reference areas outside the protected areas. Additionally, oceanographic measurements (temperature, salinity, and oxygen) are carried out using a CTD probe to examine the extent to which the occurrence of fish depends on these parameters. Another task is to test less invasive survey methods for future monitoring in the Natura 2000 areas. For this, surveys using underwater video observation are planned.

 

Solea 822

The main objective of the journey, which took place from May 26 to June 6, 2023, was to sample in survey areas of the Natura 2000 sites and compare them with comparable reference areas outside the protected zones. Another task was to test less invasive survey methods for future monitoring in the Natura 2000 areas.

 

Clupea 377

During the Clupea journey conducted from July 17 to 28, 2023, the demersal and benthic fish fauna in the Natura 2000 areas of Fehmarnbelt and Oderbank in the Baltic Sea were studied.