MALEK – Climate change-related requirements for marine nature conservation measures in the North and Baltic Sea
Background and Goals
A high number of human activities have an impact on marine species and habitats. In the German exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, for example, these include fishing, offshore installations, exploitation and exploration of natural resources, submarine cables and pipelines, military training operations and shipping. The effects of the climate change add to these direct, local encroachments. For an integrative nature conservation management, it is essential to estimate the potential impact of these encroachments on the marine species and habitats.
It is therefore the aim of this project to create a comprehensive handbook on oceanic species and habitats in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea that are protected under the terms of the European Habitats Directive or other, regional marine conservation legislation and conventions. The biological and ecological characteristics of selected fish, marine mammal, and benthic invertebrate species, as well as the habitats of the benthic zone are to be compiled in the form of detailed profiles. On this basis, the specific sensitivities of the protected commodities to anthropogenic encroachment and the expected climate changes will be synthesized. The book will be published in two separate editions, German and English, designed to support practical marine conservation work, for example in evaluating encroachment scenarios and developing protective measures.
The foundations of integrated conservation management are considered, such as the derivation of safety regulations and conservation objectives for protected areas, and the development of management plans as a basis for approving intervention procedures in protected areas.
Content time
toResearch area/region
Country
- Germany
Spatial resolution
North Sea and Baltic Sea
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
Use of AquaMaps. This program is used for creating future distribution maps for the world's largest fish database. The climate projections are based on the IPCC data (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). The maps are generated with the aid of environment parameters on the one hand, and the special requirements of the individual species on the other. Further climate models will be selected in the near future.
Parameter (climate signals)
- Higher average temperatures
Further Parameters
acidification, sea current changes
Further times
2050
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
The specific sensitivities of the in North Sea and Baltic Sea occurring species and habitats relative to various parameters (Increase in the surface water temperature, changes to sea currents, acidification) and based on various biological and ecological characteristics will be investigated.
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Time horizon
- 2036–2065
Participants
Funding / Financing
In the framework of the government Climate Initiative
Project management
Kiel Earth Institute
Cooperation/Partners
Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel;
Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) West Coast of the Christian Albrecht University Kiel. The project consists of three subareas:
1. Fish, under the management of IFM-GEOMAR
2. Benthic invertebrates and habitat types, under the management of IFM-GEOMAR
3. Marine mammals, under the management of FTZ West Coast.
Contact
Bundesamt für Naturschutz
Internationale Naturschutzakademie
D-18581 Putbus, Insel Vilm
