| Project leader: | Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert |
|---|---|
| Scientific work: | Dipl.-Biol. Bianca Unger |
| Project term: | October 2015 until July 2017 |
| Sponsorship: | Federal Nature Conservation Agency (BfN), (FKZ 3515820600) |
| Cooperation partner: |
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development Research and Technology Centre, West Coast |
Project description
This project aims to integrate nature conservation into maritime spatial planning. In order fully understand the spatial claims of all three marine mammal species inhabiting German waters, a method of assessment will be developed. Along with this, nature conservation and anthropogenic exploitation are going to be considered and all relevant aspects will be taken into account.
Both, the North and Baltic Seas are characterised by a variety of anthropogenic utilisations which include commercial and tourist activities. This leads to an interaction between user groups and the Ecosystems. To avoid conflicts between different user groups and to ensure the functionality of the ecosystem, the usage of maritime space has to be regulated. This is grounded in the maritime spatial planning process. The project will focus on the ecosystem as a whole (ecosystem approach). Therefore, all components, biota and habitats will be taken into account. Different anthropogenic factors that are suspected to have a negative effect will be studied and their impact on the ecosystem evaluated.
Data on the impact of anthropogenic influences are available due to a variety of projects carried out at the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research such as the aerial survey flight used for estimating the distribution and abundance of harbour porpoises. These surveys deliver valuable information about the requirements of marine mammals in German waters.
