Fields of activity

Marine living resources

In the "Living Marine Resources" research unit we investigate the biological basis for successful fisheries management. When is a stock overfished? How much can be caught sustainably next year or in the long-term? What causes the decline of North Sea cod? These are just some of the questions we are working on in cooperation with our international network of partners. The basis for answering such questions is the data collection framework and model estimates on the state of fish stocks in the North Sea and the North-East Atlantic. Our aim is to provide high-quality scientific advice for the ...

Marine ecosystems

How will our marine ecosystems look like in future? How will functions and ecosystem services be altered under climate change and simultaneous intensive human use?

Operational observation systems

Monitoring biotic and abiotic parameters of the marine environment is crucial for our understanding of marine ecosystems and how they are affected by humans. Parameters are measured at different scales and with different techniques. In addition to monitoring physical parameters such as temperature and salinity, modern, increasingly non-invasive and automated methods are used to record both physical and biological environmental parameters as well as to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of marine organisms - from plankton to top predators.

Marine spatial management

Fisheries, offshore renewables, marine conservation, shipping and science: More and more users are competing for the same space in coastal and offshore areas. How can we balance sustainable use of marine resources and the maintenance of ecosystem health?