Protecting the Skagerrak for biodiversity, food and climate

Abstract

The Skagerrak is a productive miniature deep sea with diverse habitat and nature types harbouring genetically distinct marine populations. Nature protection in the Skagerrak consists of marine protected areas (MPAs) ratiied under the OSPAR agreement (EU and non-EU members), the Natura 2000 network of MPAs (EU member states) and national parks. Preliminary analyses suggest that marine protection in Skagerrak is weak overall, especially considering areas with regulation of bottom-contacting isheries. Further, protected areas in Skagerrak are largely restricted to shallow coastal areas, meaning that important deep-water habitat types are poorly protected. The deepest parts of the Skagerrak are situated in the Norwegian Trench, which is home to vulnerable marine ecosystems, and constitute the most important carbon sink in the greater North Sea region. Establishment of a coherent network of MPAs in the Skagerrak will require international coordination, where marine spatial planning should consider the beneits of protection to biodiversity, isheries and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Published in

Nord
2024, number: 2024:031
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers

SLU Authors

• Sköld, Mattias

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergström, Ulf

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Coastal and sea areas

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• ISBN: 978-92-893-8061-4
• eISBN: 978-92-893-8062-1

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/140344