In the Outer Oslofjord, seabirds are an indicator of how the sea is doing. Now they lack food, and increasing disturbance from human activity is reducing the population. Rune Aae is a biologist and active bird watcher, and takes us to the bird tower in the nature reserve Øra in Fredrikstad. Biologist Rune Aae calls the decline in seabirds in the protected nature area outside Fredrikstad dramatic. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news There are valuable wetland areas at the outlet of the Glomma. But it is also a neighbor to large industrial and harbor facilities, and to the bustling boat life around the Hvalerøyene. – We see how the population of seabirds is decreasing year after year. More and more of us have boats, which allow dogs to run loose on islets and reefs. And several piers are built near nesting areas. It is the sum of all these things that threatens bird life, he says. Other factors are fishing, pollution from Glomma and the climate changes that are changing life in the sea. Ornithologists have also observed how seabirds migrate from the archipelago to the city, where there is more food to be found. Now a large research group has set out to determine what threatens the values in the Norwegian seas. Have assessed all sea areas Researchers from six professional environments have mapped the vulnerability of seabirds and fish, kelp and eel grass, plankton and marine mammals, organisms in the Arctic Ocean, bottom communities and entire food chains in our oceans. See the full report here. – What we saw was that it could be good to get a comprehensive overview of all environments in the sea that are vulnerable in each sea area, says researcher Cecilie Hansen at the Institute of Marine Research. The report published last week shows which species are vulnerable in which sea areas. That is, from the Outer Oslofjord in the south to the Barents Sea in the north. In this way, authorities and others who wish to operate in these areas can quickly gain an overview of how vulnerable life is in that particular area. Marine researcher Cecilie Hansen has led the work to create a joint overview of vulnerable species in the sea. Photo: Private – We can look at herring or cod. Will they be as vulnerable in the Barents Sea as in the North Sea? If they are not, then the report will tell why, explains the marine scientist. These have worked on the ocean report Norwegian Institute of Marine Research Norwegian Polar Institute Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Defense Research Institute Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) The British Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). Source: The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research 17 threats Specifically, seventeen different influences to which life in the sea can be exposed have been assessed. barriers or obstacles fishing and catching by-catch of fishing electromagnetic fields disturbances littering pollution pollution from oil physical impact foreign species nutrients sedimentation loss of habitat underwater noise extraction of non-living resources accidental loss, and climate change In each of the sea areas there will be different threats to the living the environments, and it may also be that factors that are threatening to some species may be positive for others. This applies, for example, to increased sea temperatures. Oil platforms can be a barrier and pose a threat in terms of the risk of pollution. Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB Shedding light on human activity Researcher Cecile Hansen calls what we have now obtained an encyclopedia of vulnerable species in the sea. It will lay the foundation for another report which is due soon. It will deal with all human activity in the same areas. – There we will look at each of the sea areas, who is there, what are they doing, and which environmental values will be most exposed to the activity that is taking place. Examples of this are fishing, oil and gas operations and planned mining on the seabed. A herring gull in flight. Several seagull species are now red-listed in Norway. Photo: Sindre Skrede / news The entire research work will then form the basis for a new management plan for the marine areas that has been notified to come in 2024. Biologist Rune Aae is only conditionally optimistic considering that a summary report has now been prepared on the vulnerability of species and environments in the sea. – We have known the reasons for a long time, but the measures mean that we have to change. It is bored.
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Researchers have mapped vulnerable species in Norwegian seas – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
