On March 10, 2026, the IOW project BenthQual started its active research phase with the first sampling. Its goal is to genetically catalogue all known macrozoobenthic organisms of the Baltic Sea and to advance molecular biological monitoring methods for this animal group. The project, which officially started on December 1, 2025, is funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and will run until the end of November 2030.

The Baltic Sea has been under pressure for decades: Although phosphorus and nitrogen river loads, the main cause for its eutrophication, have been significantly reduced, adverse effects such as algal blooms and oxygen depletion still massively occur, leading to further ecological problems. Scientists at the IOW have now published a comprehensive review showing how nutrient pollution, internal matter cycles and global warming interact, thereby delaying the impact of protective measures. They also identify potential approaches for effective Baltic Sea management. The study was recently published in the Annual Review of Marine Science.