The seas are a place of longing for millions, especially for those who do not live by the coast. Their vastness allows us to forget our everyday worries. Wind and waves satisfy our yearning for enjoyment and movement. The underwater world, with its incredible diversity of shapes and colours, fascinates and inspires artists, researchers, and many others. In Germany, people cherish the expansive sandy beaches along the North and Baltic Sea coasts and enjoy their holidays by the sea. Yet the coasts and oceans are much more than just holiday destinations – they are also significant cultural sites.
![[Translate to English:] Im Vordergrund ist das blaue Meer zu sehen, im Hintergrund sind grüne Hügel, die alle kleine Inseln sind.](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/3/csm_Foto_von_Hector_John_Periquin_auf_Unsplash_0c41298e5c.jpg)
For instance, in Palau, located in the Pacific Ocean. The proximity to the sea and the unique beauty of Palau's underwater world shape the culture of the island nation's inhabitants. The connection between people and the ocean lies at the heart of their culture. The people of Palau deeply understand the immense value of a healthy marine environment – not only as the habitat of the fish they catch but also as a natural barrier against storm surges. This understanding is reflected in their age-old practice of “bul”, a traditional method for preserving the ecosystem. Through this practice, they periodically close off certain areas to fishing or other activities for a set period. Over time, this has given rise to extensive marine protected areas around the islands, where industrial fishing is prohibited.
![[Translate to English:] Großes Schiffsmodell, das an schweren Eisenketten an der Decke im Bremer Rathaus hängt.](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/2/csm_Orlogschiff_Bremen_obereRathaushalle_Bild-KMatthes_34c663dbb5.jpg)
Stories of seafaring and pirates, such as Klaus Störtebecker, are read to children from an early age. Maritime trade is visibly woven into the fabric of cities like Hamburg or Bremen, with depictions of ships adorning buildings. In the art museums of these cities, numerous paintings of sailing ships are on display. And everyone knows songs like “Alle die mit uns auf Kaperfahrt fahren”, “My Bonnie is over the ocean”, or “Ein kleiner Matrose”.
The sea, as a vast and unpredictable neighbour, has shaped life along the coasts. Today, one can experience this dependence firsthand, for example, through the tides of the North Sea on East Frisian islands like Juist or Baltrum. These islands can only be reached by ferry at high tide, which means the ferry schedules change daily.
Coastal tourism is booming
The tourism industry is also capitalising on the dream of the sea. For many islands and coastal regions, attracting holidaymakers has become the primary source of income. The influx of visitors provides local communities with alternative career opportunities, such as whale watching instead of fishing. Tourism also encourages efforts to preserve natural treasures like coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and kelp forests.
At the same time, a constant flow of visitors poses significant risks to the marine environment. The construction of hotels, roads, cruise terminals, and leisure facilities often contributes to the destruction and overdevelopment of coastal areas. Many islands face challenges such as excessive waste and declining freshwater supplies.
Both organisers and visitors must therefore strive to make their time by the sea as resource-efficient and sustainable as possible. In some places, small-scale successes are already evident. However, in popular tourist hotspots, much work remains to be done.
