Gdynia Maritime University GMU

The primary focus of the Department of Aquatic Ecology (DAE) is performing biological research on the environment of the Baltic Sea and inland waters. The DAE team performs numerous national and international scientific, developmental, implemental and expert works, as well as provides consultation and expertise. The scope of the Department’s activities leads to the solution of significant ecological problems (from a national water management standpoint), the development of marine energy and the enablement for Poland to meet its international obligations.

Innovative works carried out by the Department of Aquatic Ecology for the first time in Polish marine areas include: natural valorisation and biotic typology, restoration of degraded fragments of marine areas, development of protection and management plans for areas of the European Natura 2000 ecological network, assessment of the ecological status of marine waters in accordance with EU legal acts, participation in the maritime spatial planning of Polish marine areas.

Fields of activity

• inventory and monitoring studies as a part of scientific research and maritime investments (offshore projects), primarily in terms of the biology and ecology of the following groups of organisms:
  • phytoplankton,
  • zooplankton,
  • ichthyoplankton,
  • macrophytobenthos,
  • macrozoobenthos,
  • ichthyofauna;
• monitoring studies of marine species and habitats that are under legal protection and assessment of the state of the marine environment in accordance with national and EU legal acts (including the National Environmental Monitoring programme, the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive);
• environmental research in inland waters, primarily in terms of ichthyofauna;
• development of environmental documentation, including Project Information Sheet (PIS) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Reports for investments carried out in marine areas, such as:
  • offshore wind farms,
  • submarine power cables and gas pipelines,
  • hydrotechnical structures;
• client support in obtaining a Decision on environmental conditions for the aforementioned investments;
• client support in the preparation of an Application for the construction and exploitation of artificial islands, structures and devices in Polish marine areas (PMAs);
• preparation of environmental reports for strategic documents, including maritime spatial plans as a part of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedures;
• development of Conservation Plans for areas of high natural value, including areas of the European ecological network Natura 2000.