Another research project within the PrimePrevention joint project is dedicated to the effects of deepening shipping routes. Two exemplary case studies examined how such interventions affect ecosystem services. The assessment is based on expert knowledge, data analyses and 3D ecosystem model simulations.
What is special about this approach is that it can be flexibly adapted to the needs of coastal engineering and can be applied both regionally and globally. It can also complement environmental impact studies (EIA), especially in the early exploratory phases. This allows potential impacts on ecosystems and cultural services to be better assessed and conflicts to be defused at an early stage.
The approach helps to improve cooperation between science, politics and practice by creating a sound data basis for decision-making processes. In the future, it will be further developed in cooperation with stakeholders and end users in order to incorporate their perspectives into research and promote sustainable solutions for the maritime space.
Integration into maritime policy and future perspectives
The findings of these studies not only provide valuable data on the development of ecosystem services in the Baltic Sea, but also offer a solid basis for policy measures and sustainable resource management.
With sound scientific analyses, more targeted strategies for dealing with marine biological threats can be developed in the future. An intact Baltic Sea is not only of inestimable value for the environment, but also for the people who live and work in the region. Through innovative research and interdisciplinary cooperation, we can help ensure that the Baltic Sea remains a valuable habitat in the future.
Authors: Martin Engler, Nike Fuchs, Gerald Schernewski
About the publication:
Schernewski, G., Jekat, M., Kösters, F., Neumann, T., Steffen, S., & von Thenen, M. (2024). Ecosystem Services Supporting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Assessments of Navigation Waterways Deepening Based on Data, Experts, and a 3D Ecosystem Model. Country , 13 (10), 1653.
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