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charts of ice distribution in the North and Baltic Seas 
individual advice to German vessels, and 
statistical processing of observed ice conditions 
Sea state forecasting service 
digital sea state forecasts (Atlantic, North and Baltic Seas) for use in route planning, 
provided by the German Weather Service, 
prediction charts of wave heights and directions. 
Drift predictions 
Preparation of drift predictions in case of special occurrences 
DOD German Oceanographic Data Centre 
- single data sets 
- combined data sets 
- graphs 
- statistic data 
Contribution by Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Fischerei (BFA-Fi), Hamburg 
- Federal Research Centre for Fisheries - 
The contribution by BFA-Fi presently comprises only programmes that are part of its general 
research plan, which means that no additional costs are incurred in the initial phase of GOOS. 
The BFA-Fi Institute for Sea Fisheries carries out long-term investigations aimed at the 
biological monitoring of marine fish stocks in the North Sea and North Atlantic, as well as in 
Atlantic areas of the Antarctic. Not only commercial fish species are monitored but also 
changes in by-catch species and changes of the ecosystem as a whole. 
The BFA-Fi Institute for Baltic Fisheries monitors the state and development of Baltic fish 
stocks and their position within the Baltic ecosystem. Studies of the main commercial species 
stocks are put in context with studies of their reproduction and dependence on climate and 
environmental factors. 
The Institute for Baltic Fisheries monitors and investigates the status of aquatic ecosystems, 
especially with a view to anthropogenic impacts on fishes and their prey as well as on other 
invertebrates and plants playing an important role in the ecosystem. The focus of this work is 
on the impact and distribution of contaminants. 
Objectives 
The activities are aimed at improving the scientific data basis for a sustainable use of marine 
living resources and at providing latest information facilitating management decisions within 
the framework of the common European fisheries policy (GFP), international fishery 
conventions (NAFO, NEAFC, IBSFC, CCAMLR etc) and marine protection conventions 
(INK, OSPAR, HELCOM).