Skip to main content
Back to Homepage

Ocean knowledge for everyone

The Information Portal of German Marine Research

Topics at a Glance

Biodiversity

Climate Change

Ocean Use

Pollution

Management

Research

Current Topics

North Sea and Baltic Sea Ocean Conservation Biodiversity The Ocean as a Climate Buffer Marine Energy Ammunition Ocean Governance Pollutants Mineral Resources Marine and Climate Research
Focus
A manta ray swims in the sea, surrounded by plastic waste such as bags and bottles.
Picture: Vincent Kneefel, Ocean Image Bank
> Plastic Litter

Plastic Litter in the Oceans

No matter where people look in the world’s oceans: Plastic is already there. Plastic waste in the marine environment is a global problem of immense scale that urgently needs to be solved. At UN level, there is movement towards a global plastics agreement.

Meere Online
Focus
Mussels and green algae lie on a sandy seabed.
Picture: Dirk Schories
> North Sea and Baltic Sea

Environmental status North Sea and Baltic Sea

Every six years, experts assess the environmental state of Germany’s marine areas. The comprehensive 2024 report reveals that the German North Sea and Baltic Sea are in poor condition.

Meere Online
Focus
Several wind turbines at the ocean, the wind farm Rampion
Picture: Nicholas Doherty, Unsplash
> Marine Energy

Offshore Windfarms

The expansion of offshore wind turbines is being driven forward in many countries. What impact does the large-scale expansion of wind power in the North Sea and Baltic Sea have on the marine environment?

Meere Online
Insight
Starfish lying on the seabed
Picture: Dirk Schories
> Ocean Conservation

Marine Protection

The health of the seas and oceans is deteriorating. The trend can only be reversed if marine protection and sustainable use are pushed forward consistently.

Meere Online
Insight
[Translate to English:] Cumulonimbus Wolke über Meereshorizont vom Forschungsschiff Sonne aus fotografiert.
Picture: Ralf Prien, IOW
> The Ocean as a Climate Buffer

The Ocean as a Climate Buffer

The ocean stores large quantities of carbon dioxide and heat and thus, slowing down man-made climate change.

Meere Online

Show more current topics

Topics at a Glance

Biodiversity

Climate Change

Ocean Use

Pollution

Management

Research

Press Releases from Marine Research

by Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (idw)

2025-06-05 11:36 AM

Microplastics threaten resilience of Mediterranean corals

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
2025-06-02 12:05 PM

Nitrogen loss on sandy shores: The big impact of tiny anoxic pockets

Max-Planck-Institut für Marine Mikrobiologie
2025-05-30 12:05 PM

How climate change is altering the Arctic Ocean

Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung

Show more news

Get involved

David Pereiras – stock.adobe.com

Hands-on activities

Researching beach discoveries, measuring the sea level rise, taking joint action against plastic waste - everyone can be a part of protecting the oceans.

Meere Online
drubig-photo – stock.adobe.com

For pupils

Experiments in the school laboratory, get a taste of Future Day, internships and other teaching and learning opportunities - please immerse yourself in the world of seas and oceans.

Meere Online
Two hands touch a touch display and interact with the Interactive World Ocean.
Picture: DAM, Sinje Hasheider

Educational materials

Innovative educational formats on the topics of marine conservation and sustainable use for different learning contexts and age groups - from kindergarten to adult education

Meere Online

Get to know Meere Online

The "Meere Online" information portal provides up-to-date, fact-based information on socially relevant marine topics. The focus is on the sustainable use of coasts, seas, and the ocean. Scientific facts are presented here in an easily understandable way. An AI-supported search facilitates access to the results of German marine research.

About us

The federal government and the governments of the five northern German states support the current development and sponsor the DAM