Protecting herring, seals and mussels
Small animals such as bristleworms, mussels, and crustaceans live on the sea bed among feeding fish and beautiful sea anemones. Porpoises forage in the Belt and seals breed and rest on the sandbanks. Altogether, these animals make up a complex food chain in which every link is important to the maintenance of a healthy, diverse world of animal life. An increase in noise, light, suspended bottom sediment, and changes to current and sea bed conditions can be caused by the project and lead to some habitat areas becoming less attractive to animal life or disappearing altogether. The environmental impact study will clarify how much this project would change animal life. Mussels carefully studied As background information for the environmental study, we will map the distribution and density of mussels and determine the amount of food available
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for birds and other animals. These calculations make use of both statistical analyses and computer models. Using the models will provide information on mussels in the entire area, not just at our sampling stations. The models will also make it much easier to compare the effect of different designs for the fixed link. Shy mammals To evaluate these risks, biologists must know where porpoises and seals currently spend their time, find their food and breed. Femern A/S is studying this by regularly observing these animals from ships and aircraft. Buoys have also been placed in the Fehmarnbelt and Great Belt which record sounds 24 hours a day to indicate mammal behaviour.
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Herring is a dominant fish species in the Fehmarnbelt making up about 40 % of all fish in the Belt. Throughout history, it has played an important role for humans and animals by the Fehmarnbelt. Merchants from the German Hanseatic cities, for instance, were key players in the mediaeval northern European herring trade.
There are two groups of herring in the Fehmarnbelt; a small group that spawns in the autumn, and a large group that spawns in spring. The autumn-spawning group is especially vulnerable and is included on the German Red List of particularly threatened species in the western Baltic.
Fehmarnbelt is the home to rich and varied fauna. Seals, porpoises and fish often attract a lot of attention, but the more modest species are also important. One example is the jellyfish, which will be carefully monitored before and during construction of the fixed link.
