Here is why you should care about the ocean

Healthy oceans are vital for life.
The following are tips for marine conservation in everyday life, which show that a lot can be done to improve the state of the North and Baltic Seas even far from the coasts.

Marine protection starts on land

Many pollutants in marine waters originate on land. Even activities that take place far from the coast can contribute to marine pollution, as the oceans are connected to the inland via rivers.

How do agriculture, road traffic and plastic waste contribute to marine pollution? To highlight the problem, UBA has produced a short film (in German only) about the Elbe, one of the largest tributaries of the North Sea. It provides advice on how to protect the ocean through changes to our lifestyles and habits.

06.06.2024

UBA-Erklärfilm: Meeresschutz

Together for our oceans

The North Sea and the Baltic Sea are not in a good environmental status due to excessive pressures from human activities which also impairs marine biodiversity. But a lot can be done to change that: Environmental protection on land also protects marine ecosystems. Continue reading to find out how.

Excessive nutrient concentrations in the sea

Human activities like agriculture and industrial processes result in large quantities of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus ending up in the sea. Excessive nutrient concentrations lead to eutrophication, the exponential growth of plants and algae which impairs marine ecosystems. As a consequence, algal blooms cloud water bodies, blocking sunlight; oxygen becomes scarce as algae consume most of... read more

Pharmaceuticals in the sea

Pharmaceuticals when entering the environment can have a significant impact and can harm plants and animals. Active biological ingredients in medicines are highly active and often very stable, giving them long-lasting properties. For example, hormone preparations can impair the reproduction of fish, psychotherapeutic agents can lead to behavioural changes in fish and antibiotics can inhibit the na... read more

Marine litter in the sea

Plastic pellets and products are a source of pollution throughout their lifecycle as they leak into the environment, release harmful chemicals and emit greenhouse gases. Marine litter consists mainly of plastics and poses a serious threat to organisms and habitats. In particular, entanglement and strangulation in pieces of litter as well as the ingestion litter particles, including microplastics (... read more

Noise in the sea

Underwater noise from human activity can disturb marine life and, in some cases, harm it by impairing hearing. Underwater noise can also disrupt the communication and orientation of marine life, which in the worst case can lead to stranding or population decline. Whales, dolphins and seals are particularly affected, but fish and marine invertebrates also suffer from noise pollution. For this reaso... read more

Overfishing

The oceans have always been an indispensable source of food. But overfishing, bycatch and damage to habitats through destructive fishing methods are straining marine ecosystems. More and more fish species around the world are threatened by overfishing. Current fishing bans for cod and herring, for example, show the explosive nature of the situation in the Baltic Sea. Non-target species such as mar... read more

Here is why you should care about the ocean | Umweltbundesamt