The extent of sediment resuspension caused by bottom trawling, storms, and dredging in the Baltic Proper

• This study compares the extent and frequency of seafloor disturbances due to anthropogenic processes (bottom trawling and dredging) with those due to wind-driven waves in the Baltic Proper. There is little overlap between areas affected by bottom trawlers and naturally from waves, and bottom trawling is the main cause of sediment resuspension at greater (>73m) depths. Swedish bottom trawlers annually suspend between 3.8 and 13.6 M tonnes in this area, while from the reported dredging projects (reported between 2007 and 2009) the estimated maximum annual spillage was 0.14 M tonnes. The dominance of bottom trawling as a factor suspending sediment is clear, but management approaches for bottom trawling and dredging are different, despite similar expected effects on organisms and the environment. 

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Baltic Sea

sediment resuspension

natural disturbance

anthropogenic disturbance

fisheries management

seafloor integrity

Marine Ecology

marin ekologi

Publication and Content Type

pop (subject category)

ovr (subject category)