The Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries (Thünen) has been established as part of the Thünen institute, a scientifically independent research institution at the interface of science, politics and society. It pursues interdisciplinary and solution-oriented research combining scientific and social science approaches to achieve a system understanding of the oceans. Based on this, the institute advises policy-makers on the protection and sustainable use of marine living resources. Hence, it provides decision support for the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) with respect to the EU Common Fisheries Policy, Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (MSPD), marine conservation processes as well as international marine conventions (i.e. NEAFC, NAFO, CCAMLR, OSPAR, IWC, ASCOBANS) of which Germany is a member. The strong science-policy competencies are also developed through scientific monitoring programs and related research activities. Thünen contributes to various national and international research projects to further improve the scientific basis of its advice (e.g. the EU-projects CERES, VECTORS, PANDORA, AquaSpace, COEXIST, MESMA). Thünen’s expertise relevant to MarinePlan comprises the development and integrated evaluation of spatial planning options, the assessment of climate effects and multiple human stressors on fish communities and the risk of socio-ecological system shifts.

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