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Concepts for offshore nature reserves in the southeastern North Sea

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Abstract

The authors summarize general criteria for selection of marine areas for protection, discuss intentions of the European Council initiative to create a coherent European network of nature reserves, point to increasing pressure on marine life by new offshore activities and installations, and arrive at preliminary proposals for offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) in the southeastern North Sea. To protect benthic communities, the minimum MPA size should not be less than 100 km2; distances of such MPAs, serving as ‘stepping-stones’ and refuges, should not exceed 100 km to guarantee coherence. Some shortcomings of the European Habitats Directive are identified and a few proposals made to consider additional marine habitat types and functional aspects within future protection initiatives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, D-27515, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Eike Rachor & Carmen-Pia Günther

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  1. Eike Rachor
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  2. Carmen-Pia Günther
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Rachor, E., Günther, CP. Concepts for offshore nature reserves in the southeastern North Sea. Senckenbergiana maritima 31, 353–361 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043044

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