%0 journal article %@ 0278-4343 %A Lüdmann, T., Saitz, M., Metzing, J., Emeis, K. %D 2021 %J Continental Shelf Research %P 104292 %R doi:10.1016/j.csr.2020.104292 %T Acoustic backscatter analysis of ground-fishing activity in the German North Sea sector %U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2020.104292 %X A comparison of their mechanical ramification shows that the fishing gear incises the seafloor and modifies seafloor structures and properties. Our investigation documents that beam trawling has the greatest physical impact and exhibits the highest furrow density in the three study areas. The created furrows can persist for at least 4 months in a substrate of very fine sand. Depending on the hydrodynamic regime, the furrows can be later refilled by finer sediments, or levelled out by storm wave-induced turbulence reaching the seafloor. The hydrofoils used in otter trawl to spread the net likewise incise the seafloor, but the furrows are much narrower. However, the ground rope of the net towed between the boards scratches the seafloor and levels the microscale topography along track widths of ca. 100 m.