Nazi Munitions, Torpedoes and Naval Mines: How Marine Life Flourishes on Discarded Weapons

In the slightly salty waters off the German coast lies a wasteland of Nazi bombs, torpedo heads and mines. Thrown off vessels at the conclusion of the second world war and neglected, thousands munitions have fused into clusters over the years. They create a corroding layer on the shallow, muddy seafloor of the Bay of Lübeck in the western tip of the Baltic.

Over the years, the explosive stockpile was overlooked and neglected. A increasing amount of tourists traveled to the coastal areas and calm waters for water sports, kiteboarding and entertainment venues. Beneath the surface, the weapons eroded.

We initially expected to see a lifeless zone, with no life because it was all poisoned, explains the lead researcher.

When the initial researchers went looking to see what they were affecting to the ecosystem, some of us thought they would find a lifeless zone, with no life because it was all toxic, says Andrey Vedenin.

What they observed surprised them. Vedenin remembers his scientists reacting with shock when the submersible first sent the images back. That moment was a remarkable experience, he says.

Numerous of ocean life had settled among the weapons, developing a regenerated marine community more populous than the ocean bottom surrounding it.

This ocean community was evidence to the tenacity of marine life. Truly surprising how much marine organisms we discover in places that are supposed to be hazardous and dangerous, he states.

In excess of 40 sea stars had piled on to one accessible chunk of explosive material. They were living on steel casings, ignition chambers and transport cases just centimetres from its explosive filling. Marine fish, crabs, anemones and mussels were all observed on the historic weapons. It's similar to a marine reef in terms of the amount of animal life that was present, says Vedenin.

Unexpected Creature Concentration

An mean of more than 40,000 organisms were dwelling on every square metre of the munitions, experts documented in their research on the discovery. The nearby seabed was much less diverse, with only 8,000 creatures on every square metre.

It is surprising that items that are meant to eliminate everything are attracting so much life, explains Vedenin. It's evident how nature adapts after a major disaster such as the World War II and how, in some way, marine life returns to the most hazardous locations.

Artificial Features as Ocean Habitats

Man-made constructions such as shipwrecks, wind turbines, oil rigs and undersea pipes can offer alternatives, compensating for some of the removed habitat. This research reveals that weapons could be equally beneficial – the bloom of life on those in the Lübeck Bay is expected to be repeated in different areas.

Between 1946 and the post-war period, 1.6 million tons of munitions were dumped off the German shoreline. Countless of people placed them in boats; a portion were placed in designated areas, the remainder just discarded at sea en route. This is the initial instance scientists have recorded how marine life has adapted.

Worldwide Instances of Marine Adaptation

• In the US, retired oil and gas structures have transformed into coral reefs
• Submerged vessels from the World War I have become habitats for creatures along the Potomac in Maryland
• Military vehicle parts that have become habitat to reef-building organisms off Asan beach in the Pacific island

These areas become even more valuable for marine life as the seas are increasingly denuded by fishing, seafloor dredging and anchoring. Shipwrecks and munitions areas practically serve as protected areas – they are not national parks, but virtually any kind of anthropogenic disturbance is banned, states Vedenin. Consequently a numerous of species that are otherwise rare or declining, such as the cod fish, are flourishing.

Coming Factors

Wherever warfare has happened in the past 100 years, surrounding seas are typically strewn with munitions, says Vedenin. Millions of tons of volatile compounds lie in our seas.

The positions of these weapons are inadequately mapped, partially because of national borders, classified armed forces records and the situation that documents are hidden in historical records. They present an detonation and safety risk, as well as risk from the continuous release of hazardous substances.

As the German government and other countries embark on clearing these artifacts, researchers hope to safeguard the habitats that have established in their vicinity. In the Lübeck Bay weapons are currently being removed.

It would be wise to replace these iron structures originating from weapons with certain safer, some safe materials, like possibly concrete structures, says Vedenin.

He now wishes that what occurs in Lübeck creates a model for substituting habitats after weapon clearance elsewhere – because also the most destructive explosives can become foundation for marine organisms.