Cracking crabs instead of peeling prawns

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Edible crabs, caught humanely using crab pots, could become a new target species for coastal fishing in the North Sea. | Copyright: Thünen Institute/Vanessa Stelzenmüller | Download

Wind turbines as habitats: Edible crabs and lobsters are increasingly settling at the base of the pylons. | Copyright: Thünen Institute/Kay Panten | Download

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The expansion of offshore wind farms in the North Sea is leading to the loss of traditional fishing grounds. At the same time, new habitats are emerging, such as for brown crabs and lobster, which are settling at the base of the turbines. Researchers at the Thünen Institute are investigating how coastal fisheries might benefit from this in the future.

Bremerhaven (20 April 2026). The declining loss of fishing opportunities in the North Sea is posing challenges for the German coastal fishing industry. Offshore wind farms and new marine reserves are being established also in areas overlapping with traditional fishing grounds. At the same time, new habitats such artificial reefs are emerging at the base of the wind turbines: crustaceans such as brown crabs and lobsters are settling in the stabilising stone fills. Researchers at the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries are now investigating whether this could benefit coastal fisheries in the future. “At some locations, wind farms could make a positive contribution to passive fishing using pots, offering a sustainable and economically viable alternative for the coastal fishing industry,” says project leader Vanessa Stelzenmüller.

The new research project aims to gain a better understanding of the populations and habitats of brown crabs and lobsters and to identify the main fishing grounds in the southern North Sea. To this end, the researchers are working closely with local fishermen and -women. In addition to standardised data collection at sea and the analysis of long-term observations, satellite data are also being used to analyse patterns of international fishing activities.

At the same time, the research team is exploring whether, and under what conditions, a passive gear fisheries could be a viable option for businesses. “We are investigating the costs, revenues and working hours that businesses can expect, and where their products can be sold in the processing, retail, catering and tourism sectors – and for what price,” says Thünen researcher Stelzenmüller. Particular attention is being paid to regional value creation and incentives for greater sustainability.

The project is funded by the federal State of Lower Saxony, which is providing around €594,500 from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, as well as around €254,800 in state funding.

The findings will be presented to stakeholders at a workshop in early summer 2028 and published in a report at the end of the project.

Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries
Dr. Vanessa Stelzenmüller
vanessa.stelzenmueller@thuenen.de

Weitere Informationen:
https://www.thuenen.de/en/institutes/sea-fisheries/projects/sustainable-passive-fisheries-in-the-southern-north-sea-passfisch Homepage of the research porject PassFisch

Cracking crabs instead of peeling prawns

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