Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Elisabeth Mann Borgese	EMB345	16.07.2024 - 02.08.2024	DAM-MGF-OSTSEE	Fehmarn Belt Baltic Sea German Baltic Sea territorial water (12 sm)

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Jurgens Klaus	Leibniz-Institut fur Ostseeforschung, Warnemunde	Rostock	Rostock

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The cruise EMB345 is part of the interdisciplinary Deutsche Allianz fur Meeresforschung (DAM) mission "MGF-Ostsee II", which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (FKZ 03F0936X). The project focuses on the exclusion of mobile bottom-contact fishing in marine protected areas of the German EEZ. In this context, a consortium of scientists is investigating how the ecosystems of Natura 2000 sites in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Baltic Sea develop after exclusion of mobile bottom-dwelling fisheries (MGF). The main objectives are to better understand the sustainability of seabed habitats and biota in Natura 2000 areas under current MGF operations, a general assessment of the impact of MGF on benthic communities and sediment functions, and their evolution after fisheries exclusion. As part of these objectives, the cruise EMB345 included a trawling experiment off Kuhlungsborn, which was conducted in close cooperation with the Thunen-Institute, Geomar Kiel and University of Rostock, and their research vessels. The experiment consisted of the investigation of intense bottom trawling impact on the benthic community on a short term scale as well as detailed investigations along sections of a single trawl track, and sampling of resuspended sediment. Analyses focused on diversity in macro-, meso- and microfauna, microbial diversity and activity as well as transport of suspended matter due to trawling activity. Further, the cruise included sampling acquisition in Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and reference areas at Fehmarnbelt as part of the time series within the MGF-Ostsee II project.

Messungen / Measurements