development of infestation patterns is therefore crucial for the successful
site-selection in shellfish cultivation.
Restauration and ecosystem services: Because of their high ecological value
oyster stocks are now in the focus of European conservation efforts. In the context
of cooperation within the Oslo-Paris Commission (OSPAR), the native oyster was
identified as a severely endangered habitat creating species and its protection in its
area of distribution was concluded. According to the Habitats Directive for the
protected habitat type “reef”, a favourable conservation status has to be preserved or
restored. In view of the ecosystem-related benefits of oyster reefs, especially the
high biodiversity of species found in reefs, the Federal Agency for Nature
Conservation (BfN) is engaged with the possibilities of a potential reintroduction of
native European oysters in the North Sea. The recently launched Project
No. 16 “Restore” aims at the development of strategies for a sustainable restoration
of Ostrea edulis in the German Bight. Methods and procedures will be tested at
experimental scales at different locations in the field. As fishery is completely
prohibited within offshore wind farm areas in German waters, these are in the focus
for first restoration sites and resemble yet another type of multi-use. Results of this
investigation will support the future development and implementation of a German
native oyster restoration program to re-establish a healthy population of this highly
endangered oyster species in the German North Sea.
11.3.3 Crustacean Species
11.3.3.1 Candidate: Homarus gammarus
Krone and Schröder (2011) and Krone et al. (2013) investigated various artificial
reefs (e.g. wind farms, wrecks) to proof if these new hard substrate structures,
which are placed on the sand and silt dominated seabed of the German Bight, would
provide a habitat for a hard bottom dweller like the European lobster. From these
insights Krone (2012a) developed various habitat designs connected to foundations
of offshore wind foundations, which allow mobile reef fauna, such as lobsters, to
live in or hide. These new designs could be beneficial to reef fauna stocks.
The population of the European lobster H. gammarus in the German Bight is
currently limited to the rocky area around the island of Helgoland. Despite management and reinforcement actions, the lobster population has still not recovered
from a severe collapse in the 1950s and 1960s (Schmalenbach et al. 2011).
A successful settlement of the animals in the stone fields that surround the individual wind turbines, could possibly contribute to the long-term stabilization of the
population. Researchers are now exposing lobsters in this emerging habitat
(Schmalenbach and Krone 2011). The project will investigate the feasibility and
environmental consequences of such a lobster transaction. 2,400 animals were
raised in a rearing facility on Helgoland in 2013/2014. Young lobsters, about five
cm size, were then relocated by divers to the hard substrate surrounding wind
11 The German Case Study: Pioneer Projects of Aquaculture …
279
site-selection in shellfish cultivation.
Restauration and ecosystem services: Because of their high ecological value
oyster stocks are now in the focus of European conservation efforts. In the context
of cooperation within the Oslo-Paris Commission (OSPAR), the native oyster was
identified as a severely endangered habitat creating species and its protection in its
area of distribution was concluded. According to the Habitats Directive for the
protected habitat type “reef”, a favourable conservation status has to be preserved or
restored. In view of the ecosystem-related benefits of oyster reefs, especially the
high biodiversity of species found in reefs, the Federal Agency for Nature
Conservation (BfN) is engaged with the possibilities of a potential reintroduction of
native European oysters in the North Sea. The recently launched Project
No. 16 “Restore” aims at the development of strategies for a sustainable restoration
of Ostrea edulis in the German Bight. Methods and procedures will be tested at
experimental scales at different locations in the field. As fishery is completely
prohibited within offshore wind farm areas in German waters, these are in the focus
for first restoration sites and resemble yet another type of multi-use. Results of this
investigation will support the future development and implementation of a German
native oyster restoration program to re-establish a healthy population of this highly
endangered oyster species in the German North Sea.
11.3.3 Crustacean Species
11.3.3.1 Candidate: Homarus gammarus
Krone and Schröder (2011) and Krone et al. (2013) investigated various artificial
reefs (e.g. wind farms, wrecks) to proof if these new hard substrate structures,
which are placed on the sand and silt dominated seabed of the German Bight, would
provide a habitat for a hard bottom dweller like the European lobster. From these
insights Krone (2012a) developed various habitat designs connected to foundations
of offshore wind foundations, which allow mobile reef fauna, such as lobsters, to
live in or hide. These new designs could be beneficial to reef fauna stocks.
The population of the European lobster H. gammarus in the German Bight is
currently limited to the rocky area around the island of Helgoland. Despite management and reinforcement actions, the lobster population has still not recovered
from a severe collapse in the 1950s and 1960s (Schmalenbach et al. 2011).
A successful settlement of the animals in the stone fields that surround the individual wind turbines, could possibly contribute to the long-term stabilization of the
population. Researchers are now exposing lobsters in this emerging habitat
(Schmalenbach and Krone 2011). The project will investigate the feasibility and
environmental consequences of such a lobster transaction. 2,400 animals were
raised in a rearing facility on Helgoland in 2013/2014. Young lobsters, about five
cm size, were then relocated by divers to the hard substrate surrounding wind
11 The German Case Study: Pioneer Projects of Aquaculture …
279