Environmental impact assessments of mussel and oyster fishery in Natura 2000 sites (39241)

Annual Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) are conducted for each Natura 2000 site and in the Limfjorden in general before fishery on wild beds of mussels or oysters can be initiated. The Danish mussel and oyster fishery is managed by several regulations both implemented by government institutions as well as internal regulations within the fisheries associations. The overall framework was implemented in 2012 as “The mussel policy”, which states that the fishery should be sustainable and in accordance with the EU Habitat Directive. Furthermore, four key ecosystem components (eelgrass, blue mussels, macro algae and benthos) are designated in The Mussel Policy. For blue mussels, macro algae and benthos 15% cumulative area impacted by fishery is accepted, whereas for eelgrass it is 0 %.

DTU Aqua performs annual surveys determining blue mussel and flat oyster abundance and biomass, regular surveys of eelgrass and macroalgae in all relevant Natura 2000 areas. Data are used for impact assessment of fishery and contain sustainable quotas of either mussel or oysters, protected areas for eelgrass and an assessment of the effects of fishery on the species included in the Natura 2000 plan. Furthermore, the cumulative area affected by fishery is calculated by analyzing black box data. The black box data show where the fisheries have taken place and how large areas that has been affected by logging the position of the vessels every 10 seconds and register any activity by the winch (starting or ending of fishing time).

This project is coordinated by DTU Aqua and funded by the Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark.

Research area: Coastal Ecology
Research area: Shellfish and Seaweed