Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2159
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2159
16 Jun 2025
 | 16 Jun 2025

Mapping organic carbon vulnerable to mobile bottom fishing in currently unfished areas of the Norwegian continental margin

Markus Diesing, Marija Sciberras, Terje Thorsnes, Lilja Bjarnadottir, and Øyvind Moe

Abstract. Organic carbon stored in continental margin sediments might be at risk by widespread mobile bottom fishing, potentially leading to reductions of organic carbon stocks, increased ocean acidification, additional atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions and a reduction of the buffering capacity of the ocean. Spatially explicit studies that have been conducted to inform marine management have so far looked at organic carbon stocks that have already been affected by mobile bottom fishing. Here, we focus instead on areas on the Norwegian continental margin that are currently not fished, based on fishing data covering the years 2009–2020. We estimate that the surface sediment layer (0–2 cm) in unfished areas covering 765,600 km2 contains 139.2 Tg of organic carbon. Based on data from a meta-analysis of demersal fishing impacts on organic carbon density, we estimate that 16.4 Tg (1.8–29.6 Tg) of organic carbon might be vulnerable to mobile bottom fishing in a scenario where each grid cell is fished evenly over the entire area and down to the full depth of the surface layer. Approximately one third of the vulnerable organic carbon is currently located in existing area-based protection measures. Additional protection could be guided by hotspots of vulnerable organic carbon, which are exclusively found in the Barents Sea. We argue that the protection of vulnerable organic carbon that is at high risk of being lost e.g. in areas becoming accessible to fishing due to sea ice retreat such as in the northern Barents Sea should be given a high priority.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Markus Diesing, Marija Sciberras, Terje Thorsnes, Lilja Bjarnadottir, and Øyvind Moe

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2159', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 Jul 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Markus Diesing, 02 Sep 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-2159', Anonymous Referee #2, 07 Aug 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Markus Diesing, 02 Sep 2025
Markus Diesing, Marija Sciberras, Terje Thorsnes, Lilja Bjarnadottir, and Øyvind Moe
Markus Diesing, Marija Sciberras, Terje Thorsnes, Lilja Bjarnadottir, and Øyvind Moe

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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.
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