Articles | Volume 22, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-7611-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-7611-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Dec 2025
Research article |
| 04 Dec 2025
| 04 Dec 2025
Mapping organic carbon vulnerable to mobile bottom fishing in currently unfished areas of the Norwegian continental margin
Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315, Torgarden, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Marija Sciberras
Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Terje Thorsnes
Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315, Torgarden, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Lilja Rún Bjarnadóttir
Geological Survey of Norway, P.O. Box 6315, Torgarden, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Øyvind Grøner Moe
Directorate of Fisheries, Bergen, Norway
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The upper 10 cm of the seafloor of the North Sea and Skagerrak contain 231×106 t of carbon in organic form. The Norwegian Trough, the deepest sedimentary basin in the studied area, stands out as a zone of strong organic carbon accumulation with rates on par with neighbouring fjords. Conversely, large parts of the North Sea are characterised by rapid organic carbon degradation and negligible accumulation. This dual character is likely typical for continental shelf sediments worldwide.
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Short summary
Dragging fishing nets across the seafloor might lead to the release of carbon dioxide, potentially leading to negative consequences such as the ocean turning sour and the planet heating up even more quickly. Protecting areas of the seabed from such human activities could help reduce negative consequences, but which places should be protected? We present a new method to map areas of the seabed offshore Norway which are most at risk and could be considered for protection.
Dragging fishing nets across the seafloor might lead to the release of carbon dioxide,...
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