News

Around World Ocean Day on June 8, 2026, the teams from M.E.E.R. e.V. and Oceano Whale Watching La Gomera, together with the elementary school in Valle Gran Rey (La Gomera), planned a project day that took place on June 9. We welcomed around 65 children from grades 1 through 4 for an exciting day centered on the ocean. At four varied stations, the students were able to learn, discover, and get hands-on in a playful way, applying the knowledge they already possessed. During a short “pond safari” at Charco del Conde Beach, the fascinating world of small coastal creatures was... Continue Reading

Berlin, June 2026. For generations, humanity has treated the ocean as something separate from us: as a space from which we can extract resources, divide, control, and exploit. But the ocean is not an ecosystem separate from human life—it regulates our climate, produces a large portion of the oxygen we breathe, sustains biodiversity, supports the livelihoods of billions of people, and connects all life on Earth. To reshape our relationship with the ocean, we must move beyond our familiar worldview and change our perspective on the ocean as well as the respect we show it. OCEAN RIGHTS can bring about... Continue Reading

Dresden, June 2026. During a visit by M.E.E.R. to Dresden, we were guests at a preschool on June 10 and at an elementary school in the Klotzsche neighborhood on June 11. With a varied and playful program featuring pictures, sounds, videos, games, and stories, Felicitas Seyffert and Fabian Ritter sparked the children’s enthusiasm for the world of dolphins and whales. Our life-size, 8-meter-long fabric humpback whale also made an appearance in the old gym at Caspari School. The more than 150 students were just as amazed as they were delighted. At the end, the questions they asked us seemed to... Continue Reading

The immense volume of global shipping traffic is becoming an ever-greater threat to whales and dolphins. The risk of collisions is increasing, particularly in regions where heavily trafficked shipping routes overlap with the animals’ habitats. A new report by the Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG) now summarizes the findings of a special workshop held at the European Cetacean Society Conference in April 2026, which was also attended by our Vice President Fabian Ritter and Noel Covian, the captain of our partner organization OCEANO. It includes analyses by over 40 international experts. The report’s key findings and proposed solutions: Most Effective... Continue Reading

May 2026. M.E.E.R. supports the global “End Commercial Whaling” petition to end commercial whaling. The campaign’s goal is to raise awareness about the history of commercial whaling and to end this questionable practice once and for all in the countries where whaling still takes place (Norway, Iceland, and Japan). The petition is scheduled to be presented during the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in September 2026. Until then, every single voice counts! You can find more information about the campaign, ongoing whaling, and the petition itself here: https://endcommercialwhaling.org/

Scientific Exchange, Ethical Perspectives, and Strong Partnerships From April 20 to 24, 2026, the 37th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society (ECS) took place in Dundee, Scotland. M.E.E.R. was once again actively represented this year: Our active member Lisa Leschinski and our first chair Volker Smit attended the conference and actively contributed to the international expert discussion, particularly during the second eDNA workshop. For decades, the ECS has been one of the most important platforms for whale research, marine conservation, and interdisciplinary exchange in Europe. Under this year’s theme, “Basics to Benefits,” the focus was particularly on the intersections... Continue Reading

Recently, a young marine conservationist from Liechtenstein launched a fundraising campaign for us that raised a total of 1,000€! We’d like to thank her very much for her dedication. Below you’ll find a selection of her photos and a short description of her project: My name is Seraina, and as part of my final project, I wanted to do something good. Since I love photography, the ocean, and the animals that live there—especially whales—more than anything, I decided to offer photo shoots and use the proceeds to support a great organization. I learned about the organization M.E.E.R. e.V. through a... Continue Reading

La Gomera, February 2026 – A Short “Situation Report” from Ricarda Scholz, staff member at our partner OCEANO Gomera and active member of M.E.E.R.: While Germany has been dealing (and continues to deal) with icy cold temperatures, slippery streets, and other “life-threatening weather phenomena,” La Gomera is greener than it has been in over ten years! After more rainfall than we’ve seen in a long time, water is once again flowing in places that had long since dried up. Small waterfalls can be spotted here and there, and the reservoirs are full. It is an incredible gift to witness this... Continue Reading