The KOFI project aims to investigate the regeneration of benthic communities and carbon storage following the exclusion of mobile bottom fishing (MGF) in the Fehmarn Belt between 2026 and 2030. The goal is to assess the impact of MGF on biodiversity and carbon storage in biomass and sediments. The project comprises the following components:

1.    Geoacoustic mapping of shear board tracks and evaluation of fishing effort data
2.    Development of biodiversity in the benthic communities of the MGF exclusion zone compared to areas that continue to be fished
3.    Contribution of benthic communities to carbon storage and remineralization
4.    Monitoring of the Fehmarn Belt MGF exclusion zone with regard to the storage capacity of sedimentary carbon

Comparisons with reference areas that continue to be fished and historical data enable a differentiated analysis of the regeneration of benthic communities and sediments. Soft bottom sediments play a central role in carbon storage in the Baltic Sea. However, considerable uncertainties remain, as there are too few measurements available overall and storage depends on the sediment type and specific environmental conditions (sedimentation rate, anthropogenic disturbances, etc.). Sediment resuspension and displacement causes CO₂ emissions through the remineralization of organic carbon, a phenomenon that has been largely unknown until now. The fishing exclusion zone recently adopted by the EU Commission (EU Regulation 2024/2943) aims to improve ecosystem functions and carbon storage in the Natura 2000 areas of the Baltic Sea EEZ. The impact of these measures is being investigated as part of KOFI. The KOFI project builds on research from MGF-Ostsee and uses established methods for biodiversity analysis as well as current protocols for sedimentary carbon and remineralization developed in the KomSO (BfN) project.