The fishery for whiteweed, Sertularia cupressina (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa), in the Wadden Sea, Germany: History and anthropogenic effects

Abstract

The whiteweed fishery in the German Wadden Sea did not close as a consequence of the loss of whiteweed beds, but rather because of declining markets. To this day, neither the assumed disappearance of whiteweed beds nor the assumed decrease in whiteweed abundance has been substantiated. Even if such a decrease were to be demonstrated, the causes for the decline would more likely have been eutrophication and anthropogenic changes in the hydrodynamics of the Wadden Sea than the activities of the shrimp and mussel fisheries or the former whiteweed fishery. © 2009 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Oxford Journals. All rights reserved.