Study on the development of Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity following the closure of fishing in the Fehmarnbelt Natura2000-area

Our Project

Trawling has a significant impact on the ecosystem of the seafloor. Through the removal of biomass, but it also by significantly disrupting the ecosystem by disturbing the sediments. In the Fehmarnbelt Natura2000 protected area, mobile bottom trawling has been banned, thereby giving the ecosystem a chance to recover. The KOFI project is now investigating how the ban on bottom trawling affects biodiversity and the long-term storage of carbon in biomass and sediments. The study examines sites within the protected area and in the adjacent reference area, where fishing is still active. This involves documenting the development of the benthic species community, using geoacoustics to map trawl scraper tracks, and sampling sediment cores and bottom water to determine sedimentation rates and the storage capacity of sedimentary carbon.

News & Events

Prince Madog Cruise 01.10. - 06.10.2026

Shows a ship painted blue and white at the harbor entrance. On the side of the ship, you can see the Red Dragon of Wales. — Research Vessel Prince Madog

With the onset of fall, Mayya Gogina and Linn Speidel set out once again for the Fehmarnbelt. This time, they traveled aboard the Welsh research vessel Prince Madog with the Benthos Team from the IOW. Despite the late season, the sea remained calm, allowing them to revisit four stations from the summer but also add six new stations along the eastern boundary of the protected area. Sediment and bottom water samples were collected, eDNA was extracted from the water column, and the benthic community was cataloged. With the data from the new stations, we are significantly expanding our study area, which allows us to analyze the effects of bottom trawling in the Fehmarnbelt with greater resolution.

NDR - “Das Rote Sofa” Reports on Bottom Trawling in the Fehmarnbelt

On September 30, 2026, NDR aired an excellent segment on the issue of Bottom trawling in the show “Das Rote Sofa.” Thanks to Peter Feldens of the Kofi Team, the segment highlighted the massive impact on the seafloor ecosystem, as well as the lack of oversight of trawl fishing in the Fehmarnbelt protected area. NDR - Fehmarn Belt: Fishing Continues in the Protected Area Despite the Ban (german)

EMB398 Cruise 02.07. - 15.07.2026

Photo of the research vessel Elisabeth Mann Borgese sailing across the calm sea at dusk.

In early July, Judith Pointek and Mayya Gogina successfully collected samples and data for the KOFI project during the Elisabeth Mann Borgese expedition 398. A total of 6 stations were investigated in the Fehmarnbelt protected area and in the reference area. In addition to collecting sediment and bottom water samples, further geoacoustic mapping was conducted, and incubation experiments on oxygen consumption in the sediment were carried out on board.

Kick-off Meeting 21.04.2026

Group photo of 13 people in front of the main entrance to the IOW building

The KOFI project is now officially underway with the kick-off meeting. Together with representatives from the BfN, we spent a day discussing the methods, challenges, and objectives. We would like to thank all participants for the lively discussion and look forward to getting started on the work.