Research cruises

The Federal Republic of Germany holds three research vessels (RV). All three vessels feature different designs and sizes and have differential areas of operation. The vessels are managed by the Federal agency of agriculture and Nutrition (BLE).

We use the vessels in the sea areas of operation of the German commercial fishery. These are North Sea and its adjacent sea areas, the open sea of the North Atlantic and additionally the stormy and cold waters of Greenlands coasts.

Read more about our research vessels, the cruise reports (Walther Herwig III, Solea) and the operation schedules of Walther Herwig III (2011, 2012) and Solea (2011, 2012).

Due to continuous operation of the research vessels, we are able to investigate in several fields of research:

• Biological monitoring and research on the population dynamics of commercially exploited fish stocks in the EU Seas, North Atlantic and Antarctic Ocean.

• Investigations on the impacts of different users (for example offshore-windparks, Marine protected areas) on the fish assemblages and the biodiversity of exploited marine habitats.

• Investigations on the effects of climate and oceanographic variability on the distribution, abundance and productivity (growth, reproduction and recruitment success) of fish stocks.

• Development and optimisation of survey strategies.

• Development of new hydroacoustic methodology and models to better estimate pelagic fish stocks.

Read more about our areas of research.