Progress in Marine Conservation in Europe

MPAs in the German EEZ - conventions and legal aspects.- International conventions for marine nature conservation and marine protected areas relevant to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.- Marine Protected Areas in the EEZ in light of international and European Community law - Legal basis and aspects of implementation.- Site selection procedure.- Interpretation, identification and ecological assessment of the NATURA 2000 habitats "sandbank" and "reef".- Rationale behind site selection for the NATURA 2000 network in the German EEZ.- Identification and assessments of habitats.- Identification of submarine banks in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea with the aid of TIN modelling.- Identification of submarine hard-bottom substrates in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea EEZ with high-resolution acoustic seafloor imaging.- Search for particularly valuable benthic areas within the German North Sea EEZ.- Benthic assessment of marine areas of particular ecological importance within the German Baltic Sea EEZ.- Identification and assessments of sites - fish, mammals and birds.- Survey of NATURA 2000 fish species in the German North and Baltic Seas.- Utilisation of time and space by harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) determined by new remote-sensing methods.- Evaluating the distribution and density of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in selected areas in German waters.- Seasonal and geographical variation of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) habitat use in the German Baltic Sea monitored by passive acoustic methods (PODs).- Identification of areas of seabird concentrations in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea using aerial and ship-based surveys.- The MINOS project: ecological assessments of possible impacts of offshore wind energy projects.- Public awareness and consultation.- Consultation and public involvement.- Raising public awareness - "HabitatMareNATURA2000.de".