You are here:
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.
Generating energy from renewable sources is becoming increasingly important; including offshore wind farms, whose expansion is being actively promoted in many countries.
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.
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.
Waterways are essential for international trade. An increasing amount of goods are being transported across the oceans, and cruises are becoming more popular.
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.
Der Ausbau von Offshore-Windkraftanlagen wird in vielen Ländern vorangetrieben. Welche Auswirkungen hat der großflächige Windkraft-Ausbau in Nord- und Ostsee auf die Meeresumwelt?
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Sustainable fish purchasing - but how? This portal provides information on the state of fish stocks in the sea that is important for the German market - comprehensive, up-to-date and scientifically proven.
This episode of ‘45 Minuten Zukunft’ - the Thünen Institute's podcast on land and sea use change - is about the European eel and the question: Can this critically endangered species still be saved?
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.
The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) provides an overview and further information on the topic of deep-sea mining and its ecological consequences.
The In the chapter ‘Life Guarantee Ocean’ of World Ocean Review (WOR) the development of shipping and emissions is described.
In this chapter, the World Ocean Review ‘Life Guarantee Ocean’ summarises facts on global fisheries and the problem of overfishing and outlines possible solutions.
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.
Information about the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site with holiday tips on sustainable offers and nature experiences compiled by the Wadden Sea National Park.
The interactive presentation by the Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) shows an environmentally friendly aquaculture concept that combines different farmed animals.
An international team of researchers has investigated the state of fish stocks and the diversity of fish species in the world's reefs.
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.
Aquaculture is growing rapidly. The Thünen Institute's dossier examines the opportunities and risks of expanding aquaculture in the sea and on land.
Chapter on deep-sea mining from the World Ocean Review (WOR) ‘Guarantee of life in the ocean - sustainable use, effective protection’.
What opportunities and risks does deep-sea mining harbour? How relevant is mining for the energy transition and what are the possible consequences for ecosystems? The Science Media Centre Germany (SMC) interviewed experts on this topic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In this publication overview, the Foundation Offshore Wind Energy offers factsheets among other things on the status quo of offshore wind energy.
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.
The ocean's pollution issue is growing exponentially. An increasing production and disposal of plastics contribute to the problem.
Alle sechs Jahre bewerten Fachleute den Umweltzustand der deutschen Meeresgebiete. Der umfassende Bericht für 2024 zeigt, dass es der deutschen Nord- und Ostsee nicht gut geht.
Die Meere und Ozeane verlieren Sauerstoff – und damit einen der wichtigsten Bausteine des Lebens. Die Hauptursachen: Erwärmung und Überdüngung der Meer.
The protection of the seas is negotiated within the framework of national and international environmental policies. Two main principles shape these considerations: the so-called polluter-pays principle and the precautionary principle.
Agreements on an international, European and national level regulate the use of the seas and oceans - however, we are still a long way from a sustainable approach to the world's largest habitat.
The health of the seas and oceans is deteriorating. The trend can only be reversed if marine protection and sustainable use are pushed forward consistently.
The consequences of marine pollution with contaminants are diverse and depend on the characteristics of the environmental toxins.
The ocean absorbes a huge amount of heat at its surface, which is stored at increasing depths. This leads to an increase in water temperature, impacting the climate and the marine life.
The absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere leads to fundamental changes in the chemistry of the ocean, impacting biological processes across a variety of life forms.
Ecosystems can withstand the pressure arising from climate change and human interventions only to a certain extent.
The ocean forms the largest continuous habitat on Earth and is home to millions of different plants, animals, and microorganisms.
All ecosystem services of the ocean are vital for both humanity and nature.
Since the end of World War II, significant amounts of ammunition and chemical warfare agents have been dumped in the ocean.
The federal government and the governments of the five northern German states support the current development and sponsor the DAM