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Ocean Use

Fishing, seaweed farming, wind energy, shipping, beach holidays - coasts, seas and oceans are used in many different ways. Sustainable use of natural resources is crucial.

Overview
> Ocean Use

Ocean Use

Fishing, seaweed farming, wind energy, shipping, beach holidays - coasts, seas and oceans are used in many different ways. Sustainable use of natural resources is crucial.

Meere Online
Insight
Offshore Windfarm. Bild von David Will auf Pixabay.
Foto: David Will, Pixabay
> Marine Engergy

Offshore Wind Energy

Generating energy from renewable sources is becoming increasingly important; including offshore wind farms, whose expansion is being actively promoted in many countries.

Meere Online
Insight
Königskrabbenfischer bei der Arbeit. Credit: Jeff Hester / Ocean Image Bank
Credit: Jeff Hester / Ocean Image Bank
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Fish and seafood are among the most widely traded foods in the world; but only sustainable management can ensure their preservation and their contribution to tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.

Meere Online
Insight
Das Foto wurde mit den Kameras des ROV KIEL 6000 während der Expedition SO268 am Meeresboden der Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) erstellt. Die Expedition war Teil des Projekts JPIO MiningImpact. Es untersucht den Einfluss, den ein potenzieller Manganknollen-Abbau in der Tiefsee auf dortige Ökosysteme hätte. Das Bild zeigt "Knollen-Rahmen" für ein Wiederbesiedlungs-Experiment.ROV Team/GEOMAR (CC-BY 4.0)
Foto: ROV Team/GEOMAR
> Mineral Resources

Deep-Sea Mining

Untapped ore deposits lie in the depths of the oceans; plans for extraction are underway, yet the impact on the delicate deep-sea ecosystems remains largely unknown.

Meere Online
Insight
Transportschiffe und Autofähre Sehestedt im Nord-Ostsee-Kanal. Bild von Erich Westendarp auf Pixabay,
Foto: Erich Westendarp, Pixabay
> Shipping and Transportation

Shipping and Transportation

Waterways are essential for international trade. An increasing amount of goods are being transported across the oceans, and cruises are becoming more popular.

Meere Online
Insight
Belebter Usedomer Strand mit Strandkörben. Bild von Kalle H. auf Pixabay.
Foto: Kalle H., Pixabay
> Recreation and Culture

Recreational and Cultural Space

The seas are deeply rooted in human cultures. They are places of longing, sources of relaxation and inspiration for millions who cherish and enjoy coastal and marine nature.

Meere Online
Website
> Marine Engergy

Offshore wind farms in the German exclusive economic zone

Information on offshore wind farms in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North Sea and Baltic Sea from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

BSH
Multimedia
> Marine Engergy

Planning areas for offshore wind farms

The interactive map of the Helmholtz Centre Hereon shows the location and size of offshore wind farms and protected areas in the North Sea and Baltic Sea for scenario planning.

Hereon
Website
> Marine Engergy

Expansion of offshore wind energy in the North Sea and in the Baltic Sea

Information from the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation on the planned nature-friendly expansion of offshore wind energy in the North Sea and in the Baltic Sea. Only available in German.

BfN
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Information from fisheries research

Finding new solutions for environmentally compatible fisheries management is the goal of fisheries research at the GEOMAR Research Centre. The website from the ‘Discover’ series summarises current information.

GEOMAR
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Fish, seafood and algae in a changing climate

How food from the sea can contribute to sustainable development in a changing climate is described in the ‘Blue Food’ handbook published by ‘Küstenmeerforschung Nordsee-Ostsee’ (KüNO). Available in German only.

Hereon
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Fish stocks online

Sustainable fish purchasing - but how? This portal provides information on the state of fish stocks in the sea - comprehensive, up-to-date and scientifically proven. Available in German only.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Mineral Resources

Natural ressources from the ocean

The GEOMAR Research Centre provides information about the natural ressources stored at the bottom of the deep sea and about ongoing research projects on the environmental impact of possible mining.

GEOMAR
Website
> Marine Engergy

How can offshore expansion be successful in an environmentally friendly way?

This study, carried out on behalf of NABU shows how an environmentally compatible choice of location for offshore expansion in German marine waters can be achieved.

NABU
Multimedia
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Land and sea utilisation in transition - Can the eel still be saved?

Episode 14 of the Thünen Podcast is about the European eel - can the critically endangered species still be saved? Available in German only.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Shipping and Transportation

Shipping at a turning point

The In the chapter ‘Life Guarantee Ocean’ of World Ocean Review (WOR) the development of shipping and emissions is described.

WOR
Website
> Mineral Resources

Overview about deep-sea mining

The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) provides an overview and further information on the topic of deep-sea mining and its ecological consequences. Available in German only.

BfN
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Problem area fishing

In this chapter, the World Ocean Review ‘Life Guarantee Ocean’ summarises facts on global fisheries and the problem of overfishing and outlines possible solutions.

WOR
PDF
> Marine Engergy

Offshore wind farms: an opportunity for fisheries and nature conservation

This publication by the Thünen Institute presents the opportunities for fisheries and nature conservation associated with the expansion of offshore wind energy. Available in German only.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Dossiers on the topic of fisheries

How is the herring doing? What does climate change mean for fisheries? How can bycatch be avoided? The Thünen Institute's dossiers provide comprehensive information on the subject of fisheries.

Thünen Institute
Multimedia
> Recreation and Culture

Podcast on tourism, fishing and marine conservation

In this episode of the BMBF UN Ocean Decade podcast, experts from the Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology and the University of Applied Sciences in Bremerhaven discuss the compatibility of tourism and fisheries with marine conservation. In German only.

BMBF
Website
> Mineral Resources

World Ocean Review: deep-sea mining

Chapter on deep-sea mining from the World Ocean Review (WOR) ‘Guarantee of life in the ocean - sustainable use, effective protection’.

WOR
Website
> Recreation and Culture

Explore the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site

Information about the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site with holiday tips on sustainable offers and nature experiences compiled by the Wadden Sea National Park. Available in German only.

Wadden Sea National Park
Multimedia
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Environmentally friendly aquaculture

The interactive presentation by the Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) shows an environmentally friendly aquaculture concept that combines different farmed animals.

ZMT
Multimedia
> Mineral Resources

Deep-sea mining: source of natural ressources or risk?

Virtual press conference from the Science Media Center Germany (SMC) with experts on the relevance of deep-sea mining for the energy transition and possible consequences for marine ecosystems. Available in German only.

SMC
PDF
> Mineral Resources

The international seabed - common heritage of mankind

Policy Brief with recommendations for the future regulation of deep-sea mining published by the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) and the Federal Environment Agency. Available in German only.

RIFS
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Overfishing of coral reefs

An international team of researchers has investigated the state of fish stocks and the diversity of fish species in the world's reefs.

ZMT
Multimedia
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Is it possible to eat sea cucumbers?

It doesn't always have to be fish - how about algae or jellyfish on your plate instead? In this episode of the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research podcast ‘Tonspur Wissen’ you will learn about new foods from the sea. Available in German only.

ZMT
Website
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Aquaculture - agriculture under water

Aquaculture is growing rapidly. The Thünen Institute's dossier examines the opportunities and risks of expanding aquaculture in the sea and on land.

Thünen Institute
PDF
> Mineral Resources

Deep-sea mining - environmental and socio-economic impacts

In this article, the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) provides information on the types of natural ressources in the deep sea and on the framework conditions and consequences of possible mining. Available in German only.

BGR
Multimedia
> Fisheries and Aquaculture

Marine atlas on the use and state of the oceans

The Thünen Institute's Marine Atlas offers interactive maps and analyses of marine ecosystems and uses such as fisheries, aquaculture, energy production, transport and tourism. Available in German only.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Marine Engergy

Fact sheets on offshore wind energy

In this publication overview, the Foundation Offshore Wind Energy offers factsheets among other things on the status quo of offshore wind energy.

Foundation Offshore Wind Energy
Website
> Shipping and Transportation

Information on the environment and maritime shipping

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) provides information on regulations and measures to minimise the impact of maritime shipping on human health, the environment and the climate.

BSH
Website
> Mineral Resources

Mining manganese nodules in the deep sea

This contribution by the German government highlights the environmental impacts of manganese nodule mining in the deep sea, which are being researched in the European joint project MiningImpact. Available in German only.

Federal Government

Find Connections

More on "Ocean Use" from other subject areas:

Multimedia
> Ecosystem Services

Information video about the upwelling area of the Humboldt Current

This short video introduces the upwelling area off the Pacific coast of South America, which provides millions of tonnes of fish and seafood annually and is considered a hotspot of marine biodiversity. Available in German only.

Humboldt Tipping
Multimedia
Zwei Hände berühren einen Touchdisplay und interagieren mit dem Interaktiven Weltozean.
Foto: DAM Sinje Hasheider
> Educational Materials

Interactive world ocean

Touchscreen-based ocean map for schools, educational institutions and exhibitions - navigate simply and intuitively by touch and immerse yourself in the underwater world.

DAM
Multimedia
> Ocean Warming

The herring in the climate trap

In the multimedia report, the Thünen Institute explains how climate change is affecting herring stocks in the Baltic Sea.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Ocean Governance

Dossier on the use of marine space

The redistribution and reallocation of marine areas has ecological, economic and socio-cultural consequences - in the Thünen Institute's dossier you can find out more about the future spatial utilisation concepts for fisheries.

Thünen Institute
Website
> Ocean Governance

Scientific advice on the sustainable use of the oceans

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is an intergovernmental organisation that provides scientific advice on marine ecosystems and resources.

ICES
Website
> Ocean Governance

The legal order of the oceans

The chapter ‘Life Guarantee Ocean’ of the World Ocean Review describes the legal order of the oceans and shows why the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is insufficiently implemented in practice.

WOR
Website
> Ocean Governance

Marine spatial planning

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) provides information on marine spatial planning, which aims to minimise conflicts of use and to ensure the protection of marine nature. Available in German only.

BMUV
Website
> North Sea and Baltic Sea

Marine protection as part of the European marine strategy

The information portal of the working group of the federal states and the federal government on the North Sea and Baltic Sea (BLANO) provides information on the implementation of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Germany. Only in German.

BLANO
Website
> Marine and Climate Research

sustainMare: protection and sustainable use of marine areas

The research mission sustainMare of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) investigates ecological, economic and social impacts of the utilisation and pollution of various marine regions and provides concrete knowledge for action.

sustainMare
Website
> Research Vessels

The Coriolis research vessel - more climate friendly shipping and modern environmental research

The research vessel Coriolis is not only used to study coasts and rivers - it is also a kind of research object itself. It is being used to research the suitability of hydrogen technologies as a more environmentally friendly ship propulsion system.

Hereon

The federal government and the governments of the five northern German states support the current development and sponsor the DAM

Topics at a Glance

Biodiversity

Climate Change

Ocean Use

Pollution

Management

Research