News

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

Like every year, Volker Smit, chairman, participated eagerly at the booth of our main sponsor, the Society for the Rescue of Dolphins (GRD) e. V., supporting their marvellous team at the boot in Düsseldorf. The atmosphere was fantastic: open, welcoming, perfect for networking, and filled with countless inspiring conversations about marine conservation. It was especially wonderful to see how many children stopped by the booth — curious, enthusiastic, and full of questions about dolphins, oceans, and nature conservation. Moments like these remind us why our work is so important.

At the end of November 2025, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Department of Marine Conservation, invited German associations active in marine conservation – including M.E.E.R. – to a meeting and exchange of ideas. We gladly accepted this invitation to the island of Vilm near Rügen and took part in the engaging discussions. In addition to current nature conservation topics, the meeting also addressed joint strategies to give the oceans greater importance in German politics. Fabian Ritter, representing M.E.E.R., repeatedly brought holistic aspects of effective marine conservation into the discussion, such as the “Rights of the Sea” and the... Continue Reading

On November 18, 2025, a symposium was held in Okinawa focusing on the issue of ship collisions with whales. In Okinawa, an island group south of Japan, a hydrofoil ferry connection between several ports is being planned—however, the planned route runs directly through critical habitats of the local humpback whale population. In recent months, this has sparked public protest, in which M.E.E.R., in cooperation with WDC Germany, has been actively involved. During the symposium—where various stakeholders, including ferry operators, whale-watching associations, and scientists, came together—Fabian Ritter from M.E.E.R. appeared as a guest speaker. In his presentation, he described the situation... Continue Reading

On November 13 and 14, 2025, Fabian Ritter participated (online) in an international workshop held in Hel (Poland) which focused on the bycatch of harbour porpoises and seabirds in the Baltic Sea. At the start of the first day, Ritter gave a presentation titled “Holistic Approach to Marine Conservation,” in which — fully in line with the new M.E.E.R. Vision — he emphasized the importance of pursuing new narratives, holistic approaches, and a paradigm shift in marine conservation. At the beginning of the second day, Ritter presented the additional necessary measures that must be implemented to ensure the survival of... Continue Reading

The Marine Mammal Advisory Group (MMAG), one of our cooperation partners, is dedicated to the issue of collisions between ships and whales. MMAG has now launched a citizen science campaign that enables members of civil society—especially sailors and captains—to share their experiences and observations with whales. MMAG calls on people to download the Whale Alert App and report collisions or whale sightings there. Alternatively, or additionally, the Marine Strike Survey can also be used. They further encourage individuals to actively discuss the issue of ship–whale collisions, as well as possible prevention measures, within their social and professional circles in order... Continue Reading

On September 15, 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement to stop harmful fisheries subsidies entered into force. M.E.E.R. was part of an initiative by a coalition of countless environmental organizations worldwide that had supported these political developments for years. In July 2025, for example, we—together with other NGOs—signed a letter to the European Commission criticizing the Spanish fishing industry and its contribution to the destabilization of various deep-sea protected areas. Through this, we are jointly taking a stand against the ongoing overfishing of our oceans and advocating for a just treatment of our aquatic co-inhabitants. The agreement had long... Continue Reading