The North Sea Intensive utilization of the North Sea, e.g., transport, extraction and disposal of sand, laying of cables and pipes, fishery, and –for the last few years- area intensive usage by offshore [...] are employing an extensive base of reliable, validated and georeferenced data from the southern North Sea collected during several decades of sampling. Models are coupled to these data, and the results [...] and mapping of benthic species and biotopes in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North Sea Participants: Jan Beermann , Lars Gutow Content: The Federal Republic of Germany is obligated by