Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/Z503770/1
Impacts of bottom trawling on seabed carbon storage
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor JG Hiddink, Bangor University, Sch of Ocean Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Poulton, Heriot-Watt University, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr MW Skov, Bangor University, Sch of Ocean Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor DD Christopoulos, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Business School
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor W Austin, University of St Andrews, Geography and Sustainable Development
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor CL Peacock, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr R Parker, Centre for Env Fisheries Aqua Sci CEFAS, CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor M J Kaiser, Heriot-Watt University, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J de Rezende, Heriot-Watt University, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society
- Co-Investigator:
- Mr R Martinez, Centre for Env Fisheries Aqua Sci CEFAS, CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr AF Johnson, Heriot-Watt University, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C Graves, Centre for Env Fisheries Aqua Sci CEFAS, CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr E Cavan, Imperial College London, Life Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor T Rippeth, Bangor University, Sch of Ocean Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Sciberras, Heriot-Watt University, Sch of Energy, Geosci, Infrast & Society
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr MJ Austin, Bangor University, Sch of Ocean Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor C Woulds, University of Leeds, Sch of Geography
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr WB Homoky, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Dixon, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Business School
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C R Garcia, Centre for Env Fisheries Aqua Sci CEFAS, CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor HA Kennedy, Bangor University, Sch of Ocean Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J Aldridge, Centre for Env Fisheries Aqua Sci CEFAS, CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory
- Grant held at:
- Bangor University, Sch of Ocean Sciences
- Science Area:
- None
- Overall Classification:
- Unknown
- ENRIs:
- None
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- Seabed sediment represents a significant sink for carbon (C) and represents a major natural asset. Bottom-trawl fishing provides a quarter of global seafood but is also the most extensive anthropogenic physical disturbance to sediment C stocks with recent evidence suggesting that seabed disturbance could result in significant greenhouse gas release from the seabed and to the atmosphere. There are major uncertainties in our understanding of the effect of disturbance on seabed C stores and air/sea CO2 fluxes (in both magnitude and direction). Consequently, the impact of seabed disturbances on C are largely unquantified and currently unregulated. This project will determine how the disturbance associated with bottom trawling modifies C storage, cycling and air/sea CO2 fluxes. For the first time, the impact of trawling on sediment-water and air-sea CO2 exchange will be assessed holistically, providing essential guidance on seabed activity management policies that mitigate climate impacts and help achieve net-zero. The project will answer all four questions defined in the Highlight Topic call: 1. How do fishing gear, trawling frequency and the sedimentary environment affect the potential for marine sediments to act as a net source of CO2? 2. How does C resuspended due to trawling modulate seawater chemistry and what is the fate of the resuspended C? 3. How do horizontal and vertical mixing, water column production and respiration affect the potential for trawl-driven biogeochemical change to result in impacts on air-sea exchanges? 4. Will management interventions result in the reduction of C loss and CO2 emissions and recovery of seabed sediment C stocks? The project comprises of 4 integrated work packages (WPs) that directly address these 4 questions. WP1 will characterise sediment pore waters and quantify the stocks of POC and PIC in the sediment and will identify how trawl gears affect the fluxes of C under different environmental settings. WP2 will characterise changes in the water column and suspended C and sediment and establish its fate in the water column after trawl disturbance. WP3 will quantify the exchange of sub-surface trawl plumes with the surface mixed layer and resultant seawater CO2 and air/sea fluxes. WP1-3 will generate novel insights about the mechanisms through which disturbance affects C fluxes and transformations. A focussed campaign of ship-based experiments will be used to inform and improve model assessments. We selected four representative sites that allow understanding of processes in contrasting environmental settings. The 3 integrated WPs will inform and improve models, which will be used to upscale and extend the spatial and temporal assessment of trawling impacts. These spatial assessments will feed into WP4, which will evaluate and identify the most effective seabed C stock management measures in collaboration with stakeholders from policy, fishing industry, eNGOs and green finance. This research will link processes, impact and mitigation of CO2 emissions due to seabed disturbance. The outcomes of the research will inform environmental solutions by avoiding emissions from seabed sediments while maintaining food production, which sits at the centre of the NERC, UKRI, DEFRA and UK strategies for clean growth and achieving net-zero. This project will make a step change in our understanding of how trawling impacts C dynamics in shelf seas and will diminish the risk of under-valuing natural climate regulation by facilitating cost-benefit analysis and risk assessments.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Nov 2023 - 31 Oct 2027
- Value:
- £2,154,613 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/Z503770/1
- Grant Stage:
- Awaiting Authorisation
- Scheme:
- Research Grants
- Grant Status:
- Approved
- Programme:
- Highlights
This grant award has a total value of £2,154,613
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DI - Staff | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Equipment | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £355,577 | £711,168 | £222,251 | £568,823 | £221,681 | £7,873 | £13,441 | £53,800 |
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