News

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.

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