Glossary

Glossary

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A

Algae

Algae are plants that grow in the ocean, in freshwater and on moist surfaces. They play a central role in marine ecosystems because they produce around half of the world's oxygen and form the basis of the marine food...

Ammunition in the ocean

After the Second World War, remnants of munitions and chemical warfare agents were dumped in the oceans. It is estimated that around 1.6 million tonnes of Second World War munitions and approximately 5,090 tonnes of...

Aquaculture

Aquaculture is crucial in meeting the growing global demand for seafood. Farming can reduce pressure on fisheries and contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems. However, the use of wastewater and chemicals...

B

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the diversity of all life on our planet, from genes and species to entire ecosystems. In the oceans, it is the basis for healthy food chains, stable habitats, and resilience to environmental...

Blue Economy

Blue Economy describes the concept of sustainably using marine resources for economic purposes without compromising the health of the oceans. The aim is to combine economic benefit with marine conservation. Blue...

Bottom trawling

In bottom trawling, heavy fishing gears are dragged along the seabed to catch as many fish as possible. This can damage sensitive habitats such as cold-water corals and seagrass beds, stir up sediments, and affect...

Breakwaters

Breakwaters are technical structures located in the sea that intercept the energy of waves before they reach the coast. Usually made of stone, concrete or wood, they are typically erected either parallel or...

C

CCS - Carbon Capture And Storage

CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) refers to technologies that capture, transport and store carbon dioxide (CO₂) over the long term. CO₂ is extracted from industrial emissions and transported via pipelines or ships to...

Climate buffer

The term 'climate buffer' refers to the oceans' ability to absorb excess carbon dioxide (CO₂) and heat from the atmosphere, thereby mitigating the effects of climate change. Since the Industrial Revolution, the oceans...

Climate Change

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, with a significant impact on the oceans. Known consequences to date include rising sea levels, ocean warming and acidification. These changes are...

Climate Research

Climate research involves investigating the interactions between the land, the oceans and the atmosphere. At its core, the subject deals with material cycles, such as the carbon cycle, and their influence on the...

Coastal Protection

Coastal protection involves taking measures to safeguard coastal areas against flooding and erosion. There are two types of coastal protection: natural and technical. Natural protection is provided by features such as...

Coral bleaching

Coral bleaching occurs when corals shed their symbiotic algae, which they need to survive, due to stress — typically caused by excessively high water temperatures. These algae provide the corals with energy and...

Coral reef

Coral reefs are complex ecosystems built up through the activity of corals and other organisms. They provide habitats for numerous marine species, protect coasts from erosion, and generate income for many coastal...

Corals

Corals are marine cnidarians that build coral reefs by producing calcareous skeletons. These ecosystems are among the most species-rich on Earth, providing a habitat for around a quarter of all marine species....

D

Deep sea

The deep sea refers to the cold, lightless and high-pressure areas of the oceans below approximately 200 metres. This region is difficult for humans to access, so it remains over 90 per cent unexplored. However,...

Deep-sea mining

Global consumption of raw materials has increased significantly in recent decades. To meet the demand for metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt, deep-sea mining is being considered more and more as a potential...

Diversity of species

Species diversity, also known as taxonomic diversity, refers to the variety of species within a habitat, as well as to the variety within a species. It is defined as the number of different organisms in a habitat. In...

Dunes

Dunes on coastal areas are formed when sand is transported by the wind and deposited behind natural or man-made obstacles. These natural barriers protect against storm surges and coastal erosion. Foredunes and white...

Dykes

Dykes are man-made embankments that run alongside coasts, rivers and lakes, protecting neighbouring areas from flooding and storm surges. As part of technical coastal protection, they usually consist of stabilised...

E

Ecosystem

Ecosystems are the community of habitats and the organisms living in them, such as animals and plants. An ecosystem includes both inanimate (abiotic) and animate (biotic) components. There are many different types of...

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans receive from nature. These include clean air and water, protection from flooding, and fertile soils, for example. They also include recreation in nature. These natural...

Environmental state of the north sea and baltic sea

Every six years, experts assess the environmental status of German marine areas. The 2024 report reveals that the German North Sea and Baltic Sea are in poor condition. Despite improvements in monitoring and...

F

Fishery

Fishing is a vital industry that provides food for billions of people worldwide. There are two main forms: industrial and artisanal. Industrial fishing involves catching large quantities of fish, whereas artisanal...

Fishing quotas

Fishing quotas are a political tool used to regulate fishing. They determine the maximum amount of a certain species that can be caught within a given timeframe, in order to prevent overexploitation. These quotas are...

H

Harbour porpoise

The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is the only native species of cetacean in the North and Baltic Seas. Belonging to the toothed whale family, it reaches a length of around 1.5 metres. These shy, dolphin-like...

I

Ice melt

The term 'ice melt' describes the melting of glaciers, inland ice and sea ice as a result of global warming. This phenomenon is particularly affecting the Arctic, Antarctic and mountain glaciers. The consequences are...

Illegal fishing

Illegal fishing poses a significant threat to fish stocks and marine ecosystems. Many species of fish are overfished. Other marine animals are also killed as bycatch, and habitats are severely affected. Illegal...

L

Law of the sea

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the legal framework for marine management. This convention obliges states to cooperate at the international, European and national levels to protect the marine...

M

Marine carbon storage

Marine carbon storage refers to the long-term sequestration of CO₂ in marine systems. The ocean can naturally reduce the greenhouse effect by absorbing CO₂ through processes such as photosynthesis by algae and...

Marine Management

Marine management involves the coordinated and sustainable use of the oceans, taking ecological, economic and social factors into account. It encompasses international, European and national regulations based on the...

Marine pollutants

Marine pollutants are substances of a chemical, biological or physical nature that are introduced by humans, endangering the marine ecosystem. Examples include toxic chemicals, microplastics, oil and wastewater. These...

Marine pollution

Marine pollution refers to the contamination of the oceans by plastic waste, chemical pollutants, and excess nutrients. This pollution endangers marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Ocean currents spread...

Marine protected areas in Germany

In Germany, marine protected areas cover around 45 per cent of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. These areas include national parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites. They are intended to protect species such as the...

Marine Protection

Marine protection involves taking measures to conserve and sustainably use marine ecosystems. Key instruments include marine protected areas, in which human activities are regulated or prohibited. Currently, however,...

Marine Research

Marine research, also known as oceanography, is the study of the coasts and oceans. Since more than 70 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, the oceans exert a huge influence on the climate and life on...

Marine resources

Marine resources are all the natural resources found in oceans that can be used by humans. These resources include both living and non-living components of the marine ecosystem. This includes fish and other marine...

Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic measuring less than five millimetres in size. They are formed when larger pieces of plastic decompose in the ocean, or they come from cosmetics, clothing, and tyre abrasion....

Mussel bed

Mussel beds are accumulations of mussels lying close together on the seabed, forming stable structures. They filter large quantities of water, thereby improving its quality and providing a habitat for many marine...

O

Ocean Acidification

Climate change is causing the oceans to absorb more CO₂, which makes the water more acidic. This particularly endangers calcifying organisms such as mussels, snails and corals. Their calcareous shells are attacked and...

Ocean dumping

'Ocean Dumping' refers to the intentional disposal of waste in the oceans, including dredged material, sewage sludge, and historically, munitions and chemicals. Large quantities of warfare agents were particularly...

Ocean Warming

Ocean warming refers to the increase in average sea temperatures caused by climate change. The main cause is the greenhouse effect, whereby a significant amount of excess heat is absorbed by the world's oceans. This...

Offshore wind energy

Offshore wind energy plays an important role in the renewable energy system, but its expansion can have a significant impact on the environment. The construction of wind farms and their connection to the mainland...

Overfishing

Overfishing occurs when too many fish are caught too quickly, causing fish stocks to dwindle to the point where they can no longer recover. One of the main causes is that fishing policy usually sets fishing quotas...

Oxygen deficiency

Oxygen levels in the Baltic Sea and other marine regions are steadily decreasing due to climate change and increased nutrient levels. Warm water holds less oxygen, and nutrients originating from agriculture and ending...

Oyster reef

Like mussel beds, oyster reefs are solid structures on the seabed that filter large amounts of water, improve its quality and provide a habitat for many organisms. They also act as natural breakwaters. In the North...

Oysters

Oysters are filter-feeding molluscs that fulfil an important ecological function. They purify the water, promote biodiversity, and stabilise sediments. The European oyster was originally native to the North Sea....

P

Plastic

Plastic is a man-made material produced from fossil fuels (such as crude oil) on a huge scale worldwide, often for short-lived products such as packaging. Large quantities of plastic regularly enter the environment in...

Plastic litter

Plastic litter is the most prevalent form of waste in the world's oceans, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems. Every year, several million tonnes of plastic waste end up in the oceans, either via rivers...

Precautionary principle

The precautionary principle states that potential dangers to the environment or human health should be prevented before they arise. The aim is to use natural resources such as water, soil and air sparingly to preserve...

R

Renewable energy

Renewable energy from the ocean uses natural forces, such as waves, tides and ocean currents, to generate electricity. This includes offshore wind power. These technologies offer great potential for sustainable energy...

Restoration of ecosystems

Healthy ecosystems have a higher biodiversity and store large amounts of CO₂, making them important allies in the fight against climate change. However, many ecosystems are severely impaired or even destroyed. But...

S

Sea Level Rise

The warming of the oceans and the melting of the polar ice caps are causing sea levels to rise globally. This endangers low-lying islands and coastal areas, home to a large proportion of the world's population....

Seagrass

Seagrass grows in shallow coastal areas and forms dense meadows. These species-rich ecosystems fulfil important functions. They absorb CO₂, stabilise the seabed and improve water quality by retaining sediments....

Ship noise

From zooplankton to fish and baleen whales, marine organisms use sound waves, some of which can travel thousands of kilometres. This allows them to communicate with each other, navigate and locate prey. However,...

Shipping

Shipping is the backbone of international trade, transporting more than 80 per cent of the world's traded goods. Modern freighters can carry up to 24,000 containers. Most routes connect industrial centres via fixed...

U

Underwater noise

Underwater noise refers to man-made noise in the ocean, for example from shipping traffic, construction work for offshore wind farms or military activities. This noise can interfere with the communication and...

W

Wave energy

Tidal, current and wave power plants are being developed to harness the power of the ocean. Tidal power plants require a tidal range of at least five metres, so they are not suitable for the North Sea and Baltic Sea....

Topics at a Glance

Biodiversity

Climate Change

Ocean Use

Pollution

Management

Research