Webinars

SIIECS Seminar Series

ASC special

13:00–14:30 CET
12 August 2025

​​​Practise your pr​esentation skills​

The Strategic Initiative on Integration of Early Career Scientists (SIIECS)​ ​online seminar series provides an informal and supportive forum for especially early career scientists to practise giving oral presentations. During the session, presenters receive constructive feedback while using the opportunity to get rid of their "nervous jitters" before their actual presentation. ​​

Agenda

StartEnd Speaker
13:0013:10
Welcome and general introduction to SIIECSFurqan Asif
13:1013:18
Presentation 1: Modelling the Impact of Bottom Trawling on Air-Sea COFlux in the North Sea
Pooja Tiwari   
 
13:1813:30Questions/discussion/feedbackAll participants

13:30

 

13:38

Presentation 2: Bridging the gap: integrating EBSA criteria into cumulative impact​​ assessments for ecosystem-based marine spatial planning

Kars Hüsken
13:3813:50Questions/discussion/feedbackAll participants
13:5014:00Wrap upFurqan Asif

Presentation 1: Modelling the Impact of Bottom Trawling on Air-Sea CO₂ Flux in the North Sea 

​By Pooja Tiwari – Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Germany

Abstract: The dynamic drivers of the marine carbon cycle are essential for predicting how human activities shape ocean-atmosphere CO₂ fluxes in a changing climate. Bottom trawling disrupts natural carbon flows through sediment resuspension, but reliable estimates of this effect have proven difficult to compile due to the complexity of the processes involved. We utilize the three-dimensional coupled physical-biological model SCHISM-ECOSMO-CARBON, which includes a carbonate chemistry module, to explain the physical-biogeochemical impacts of bottom trawling on the North Sea's carbon cycle. We examined the impact of bottom trawling for the period 2000-2005 using two model simulations. The first simulation includes only natural resuspension, while the second experiment considers a parametrization for bottom trawling-induced resuspension. We utilized detailed fishing activity data—including vessel position, size, and engine power—alongside estimated resuspension rates for various fishing gear to generate daily forcings for trawling-induced resuspension. Scenario simulations shown that bottom trawling influences particulate organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, and air-sea CO₂ exchange. The results show spatially heterogeneous variability in air-sea flux changes, resulting from changes in remineralization and ecosystem productivity. Our findings provide critical insights into the impact of ongoing bottom trawling on the North Sea carbon distribution.

Keywords: Carbonate, Air-sea flux, North Sea, Bottom trawling, Remineralization

Bio: I am a final-year PhD student researching the impacts of bottom trawling in the North Sea using a high-resolution 3D numerical ocean model. My work focuses on understanding  sediment transport caused by trawling activities and its impact on the intersection of marine ecosystem dynamics.


Presentation 2: Bridging the gap: integrating EBSA criteria into cumulative impact assessments for ecosystem-based marine spatial planning ​

By Kars Hüsken  – Wageningen Marine Research, Netherlands​

Abstract: Marine spatial planning (MSP) balances conservation with sustainable use of marine ecosystems. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) introduced Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) to identify key biodiversity areas, but integrating them into MSP remains challenging due to subjective weighting of criteria. Meanwhile, cumulative impact assessments (CIAs) increasingly support ecosystem-based MSP (EB-MSP) and can play a key role integrating conservation frameworks such as EBSAs.  This study interprets EBSA criteria to align them with the SCAIRM (Spatial Cumulative Assessment of Impact Risk for Management) parametrisation and provide EBSA-compliant guidance for EB-MSP. Applying this approach in the North Sea, we demonstrate how this CIA quantifies EBSA criteria such as vulnerability based on stressor-receptor interactions, ecosystem resilience, and biodiversity values. Additionally, this approach supports the generation of EBSA-compliant maps, including an MPA-Guide protection level classification of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).  Our findings demonstrate how the application of a CIA avoids the haphazard and often implicitly subjective weighting of EBSA criteria, thus incorporating conservation into EB-MSP decision-making to enhance marine biodiversity protection. By integrating CIAs into EB-MSP, a clear, data-driven framework is established, ensuring that conservation measures support long-term ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation.

Keywords: MSP, EBSA, CIA, North Sea, Decision Support System

Bio: I’m a marine ecologist at Wageningen Marine Research, focusing on spatial analyses of human pressures and ecological impacts in the marine environment. With a broad background in ecology, I work on translating complex models into clear insights to support policy and management. In my work, I bring together ecological knowledge, data and tools to support informed decision-making.​


Future dat​es 

Our​ seminar series takes place every two months, on the second Tuesday of the month at 13:00–14:30 CET. 

Join our upcoming events: 

​​​What is SIIECS? 

The Strategic Initiative on Integration of Early Career Scientists
(SIIECS) is for anyone who identifies as an early career scientist
and who wants to be involved in ICES activities. Join us!

If you are interested in getting involved with SIIECS activities or
receiving SIIECS newsletter, drop us a line​!

Read more about SIIECS.

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SIIECS Seminar Series

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