Verdensarv Vadehavet

Sascha Klöpper appointed as new Executive Secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat

annika — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:57:09 +0000

Sascha Klöpper appointed as new Executive Secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat annika 27th February, 2024

28.02.2024

The Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands has appointed Sascha Klöpper as new Executive Secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS). Klöpper will officially take office on 1 March 2024.

With a background in marine biology, Klöpper brings over a decade of experience within CWSS. He spearheaded the transition of the Wadden Sea Quality Status Report to an accessible online platform, enhancing transparency and accessibility of crucial environmental data. As secretary of the Trilateral Programming Committee Wadden Sea Research he has been a driving force in strengthening collaboration with the scientific community. For several years he has served as Deputy Executive Secretary. Since the term end of Bernard Baerends in June 2023, he has held the position of the Executive Secretary on an interim basis.

The selection committee, consisting of representatives of the Cooperation’s three member states and Anne-Marie Vægter Rasmussen, Chair of the Wadden Sea Board, gives the following statement on Klöpper’s appointment: “We are delighted that we have filled the Executive Secretary position with someone who is an exact fit with the competences required for this task. Sascha will be able to further develop the Secretariat’s team and its tasks in view of the current and future challenges for the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site for the benefit of the property and the Cooperation. With his broad expertise and engaging manner, he has contributed greatly to the Secretariat's current performance as a trustworthy partner. Sascha is also very well known, experienced, and appreciated in the Wadden Sea community. Since summer, Sascha has led CWSS with great competence and commitment. He has proven to work with the Board, partners, and stakeholders in a reliable and inspiring way. We are looking forward to cooperating with Sascha in his new role as well as with our partners and stakeholders in the Wadden Sea community.”

“I am very excited to move into the position as Executive Secretary”, says Klöpper. “Even though, I have had some practice already in the past months as interim, now I can fully immerse myself in strengthening CWSS as a vibrant team and as the first point of contact of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. I look forward to working with our member organisations and partners from this new position.”

The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat supports, facilitates, and coordinates the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. Located in Wilhelmshaven, the Secretariat was founded in 1987 by the Wadden Sea states Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Further, CWSS is the secretariat of the Wadden Sea Seals Agreement, the first regional Agreement to be concluded under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). It also deals with the implementation of the obligations derived from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.

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Harbour seal counts in the Wadden Sea show decrease third year in a row

annika — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:17:45 +0000

Harbour seal counts in the Wadden Sea show decrease third year in a row annika 1st November, 2023

01.11.2023

The harbour seal, a Wadden Sea icon, is continuously monitored in the transboundary Wadden Sea World Heritage Site of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands and the island of Helgoland. The yearly pup counts of 2023 revealed a 10% increase in pup numbers, while the yearly count of all harbour seals during the moult decreased by 4% compared to 2022. It is the third year in a row that the trilateral Expert Group Marine Mammals has observed a decline in total harbour seal numbers. It is not yet clear which factors are causing the negative trend.

In June, 9,334 pups were counted in the Wadden Sea compared to the 2022 count of 8,514 pups. An increase was observed in three Wadden Sea subregions. In Denmark, pup numbers increased by 23%, in Schleswig-Holstein by 12%, and in the Netherlands by 18%. In Lower Saxony and Hamburg, however, a decrease of 5% was noted. No pups were counted on Helgoland. The development of the next years will show whether the pup numbers will begin to decrease following the trend witnessed in the moult counts.

The moult counts in the Wadden Sea area in August 2023 accounted for the lowest numbers observed since 2010. In total, 22,621 harbour seals were counted. Numbers dropped in all areas, except for Lower Saxony and Hamburg, where an increase of 17% was recorded to 5,639 seals. In Denmark, seals numbers decreased by 19% to 2,268 seals. In Schleswig-Holstein 7,936 were counted, constituting a decrease of 5% compared to 2022. In the Netherlands 6,706 seals were counted, 11% less than in 2022. On Helgoland, 72 seals were counted compared to 98 in 2022 (-27%).

“With this sustained decrease in counts, we can now be rather confident that the population is decreasing”, says the report’s lead author Anders Galatius, University of Aarhus. “It would be pertinent to look into the potential causes, among which are habitat degradation, food availability and the increasing number of grey seals in the area.”

The numbers of harbour seals counted during the moulting season have stagnated since 2010, and the last three years counts have shown a decrease. Various factors may have contributed to this decline by causing higher mortality and behavioural changes. These could include degradation of habitat and disturbance in the Wadden Sea or offshore (i.e. increased human use for fisheries or shipping or wind farms) and competition for resources with fisheries or other marine predators for food and space. Also, direct mortality due to by catch or predation could play a role. Further research is needed to determine the relative impact of these different factors.

Harbour seals are one of the top marine predators in the Wadden Sea. As part of the monitoring work conducted by the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation, the trilateral Expert Group Marine Mammals coordinates the counts and harmonizes the data from across the Wadden Sea region. The harbour seal is trilaterally protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea (WSSA) concluded under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

>>> Full report

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TWSC Statement on the UNESCO State of conservation of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site

annika — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 05:47:32 +0000

TWSC Statement on the UNESCO State of conservation of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site annika 21st September, 2023

20.09.2023

During their 45th session, 10-25 September 2023, the World Heritage Committee adopted an assessment on the state of conservation (SoC) of the Wadden Sea prepared by the World Heritage Centre and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This report, part of the so-called reactive monitoring process - a statutory process under the World Heritage Convention, was prepared based on information provided by the States Parties and stakeholders to the World Heritage Centre regarding projects and developments which could have the potential to negatively impact the Wadden Sea's Outstanding Universal Value.

By adopting the report and decision proposals, the World Heritage Committee expressed its concerns about different human activities within, nearby or beneath the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, including mineral extraction and infrastructure for renewable energy. Therefore, it requested the State Parties of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands to provide further and comprehensive information to get an overview on potential impacts on the whole of the transboundary World Heritage Site. This also includes the preparation of a strategic environmental impact assessment study regarding cumulative effects of future plans and projects on the Site's Outstanding Universal Value.

This information, which will also encompass the various protective measures put in place in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site, will be used to update the report on the state of conservation. It will enable the World Heritage Committee to review the assessment of the conservation status and, eventually, to decide on the necessity of adopting specific measures next year. The Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands supported by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat is preparing a joint report to address the World Heritage Committee’s requests and to respond to the raised concerns.

The World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, which seeks to identify and protect cultural and natural heritage sites of universal value. The Committee is composed of representatives of 21 States Parties to the Convention elected by the General Assembly of States Parties.

All World Heritage Committee documents are available on the website: https://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/45COM/

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Experts express concern about biodiversity in the Wadden Sea

annika — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:14:26 +0000

Experts express concern about biodiversity in the Wadden Sea annika 31st August, 2023

31.08.2023

More than 150 representatives from science, nature conservation, and politics met in Wilhelmshaven for the 2023 Wadden Sea Day titled “Put the Wadden Sea’s Biodiversity on the path to recovery!”

The Wadden Sea World Heritage Site is considered one of the global hotspots of biodiversity. Well over 10,000 animal and plant species are either native here or regular guests on their migration between north and south. Biodiversity is one of the criteria for the Wadden Sea's recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. But this designation is not something to rest on. At today's Wadden Sea Day, more than 150 participants exchanged views on the trends in biodiversity and discussed how the loss affects the Wadden Sea's unique ecosystem and its Outstanding Universal Value as a World Heritage Site.

“The Wadden Sea Day is a perfect setting for new ideas and impulses for the trilateral cooperation on how to manage the area in a way that gives added value to what each of the three countries does on a national level”, said Anne-Marie Vaegter Rasmussen, Chairperson of the Wadden Sea Board.

“This special ecosystem needs tailored solutions to maintain its biodiversity," summarised Peter Südbeck, Head of the National Park Authority “Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer”, the day’s discussions. “It is important that our strategies include zero-use areas or active restoration measures for selected species as well as a reduction of pressure from different sectors using the area's natural resources.” He added that it also became clear that a stronger collaboration beyond borders and across sectors is urgently needed to protect and strengthen the biodiversity in the Wadden Sea.

The Wadden Sea Day has been jointly organised by the National Park Authority “Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer” and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat since 2006.

Statements of some of the speakers (alphabetical order):

Jon Day, James Cook University (Australia, online participation)
One of the zone types introduced into the Great Barrier Reef in the early 1980s comprised small, but permanent, “zero use areas", known locally as Preservation (or pink) Zones. Today these ‘no-entry’ zones have far greater species diversity than the better-known 'no-fishing' zones (the ‘green zones’), the zone type that prohibits fishing or collecting, but allows entry (e.g. for tourism).

Sjon de Haan (Netherlands), Wadden Sea World Heritage Coordinator:
Tourism is big and growing, A fence around the Wadden sea is not the solution for protecting the biodiversity. it is not about how to keep tourist away, but about how to get the right tourists and to harness the potential positive impact tourism can have. The future is regenerative tourism, tourism that adds value to nature and local communities, not extractive tourism.

Dorothee Hodapp (Germany), Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB, Universität Oldenburg):
The Wadden Sea is currently experiencing a replacement of species accompanied by changes in functional traits and phenology rather than a reduction in the number of species. The main drivers of biodiversity change are still habitat destruction, resource extraction, pollution, and eutrophication. However, the influence of climate change is increasing in importance.

Philipp Oberdörffer (Germany), Lower Saxon Chamber of Agriculture:
Fisheries and biodiversity are naturally interlinked. Hence, especially in a national park, the art is to bring together protection and benefit as best as possible.

Karsten Reise (Germany), Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research:
Shorelines and estuaries suffer from opposing policies and management. Through new cooperation, sand supplies onto shores instead of stone revetments and groins, and floating docks for transferring oceanic cargo before entering estuaries, would revive biodiversity resilient to climate change in the Wadden Sea.

Henk de Vries, It Fryske Gea (Netherlands):
To restore the biodiversity of the Wadden Sea, attention must be paid to the recovery of the ecosystem and the elements that go with it, and the area must be managed as a nature reserve and all use must be in harmony with the natural values. Much remains to be done on all three aspects. The EU Biodiversity Strategy can provide direction for this.

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Coordinated surveys confirm continuous growth of grey seals in the Wadden Sea

annika — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 08:00:52 +0000

Coordinated surveys confirm continuous growth of grey seals in the Wadden Sea annika 3rd July, 2023

03.07.2023

The grey seals inhabiting the Wadden Sea and Helgoland are an integral part of a broader North Sea population. Similar to other regions in the North Sea, numbers continue to grow. In the past five years, the number of grey seal pups in this region has shown an average annual growth rate of 13 percent, while the number of adult animals counted during the moult grew by 12 percent annually. These are the results of the “Grey Seal Surveys of the Wadden Sea and Helgoland 2022-2023” published in the framework of the Trilateral Cooperation on the Protection of the Wadden Sea.

On an annual basis, the trilateral Expert Group on Marine Mammals, consisting of researchers and site managers from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, conducts coordinated aerial surveys of grey seals encompassing the entire Wadden Sea World Heritage Site as well as the island of Helgoland (Schleswig-Holstein). On Helgoland the counts are done on the ground, recently supported by drone flights. During the peak of the winter pupping season spanning from November 2022 to January 2023, a total of 2,515 grey seal pups was counted in the Wadden Sea and on Helgoland. With 1,436 pups, the majority of newborns were seen in the Dutch Wadden Sea, marking a 15%-increase compared to the previous breeding season. On Helgoland, 684 grey seal pups were observed, a plus of 12 percent. Lower Saxony experienced a 9%-decline in pup numbers, tallying 393 pups. However, here some parts of the breeding habitat could not be counted, due to bad weather at the time of counts, which may have led to lower numbers. Few grey seals breed in the eastern and northern part of the Wadden Sea, and thus only one pup was observed in Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, respectively.

Counts of adult grey seals are conducted in March-April, when the adult Wadden Sea grey seals spend more time hauled out on sandbanks during the peak of the annual moult. This year, the experts counted a total of 10,544 grey seals, representing an increase of 18 percent compared to last year. “This increase follows a slight drop in numbers observed from 2021 to 2022, emphasising the need to interpret the counts looking at several years rather than one”, explains Jessica Schop, first author of the report.

Approximately 70 percent of the adult grey seals were recorded in the Dutch Wadden Sea. The counts tallied 7,613 grey seals in this region alone. With 1,420 grey seals Helgoland constituted 13 percent of the overall count. Lower Saxony and Hamburg recorded 11 percent of the grey seal population, accounting for 1,190 individuals. In the Wadden Sea area of Schleswig-Holstein, 176 individuals were counted. In Denmark 145 grey seals were observed.

Grey seals are the largest predators along the Wadden Sea coast and, like harbour seals, one of the iconic species of the region. Although the Wadden Sea Seal Agreement (WSSA) under the auspices of the Convention of Migratory Species in Bonn does not cover the grey seals, they do benefit from their inclusion in the related Seal Management Plan, which is updated every five years and covers also the grey seals. This includes the annual counts, which are required to identify trends in seal numbers and variations in their geographical distribution across haul-out sites in the Wadden sea countries. These data help inform comprehensive conservation and management of the grey seal population. CWSS acts as the secretariat of WSSA.

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Danmark, Tyskland og Nederlandene underskriver Wilhelmshaven-erklæringen om fortsat beskyttelse af verdensarvsområdet Vadehavet

annika — Wed, 17 May 2023 09:24:06 +0000

Danmark, Tyskland og Nederlandene underskriver Wilhelmshaven-erklæringen om fortsat beskyttelse af verdensarvsområdet Vadehavet annika 17th May, 2023

15.05.2023

Vadehavet kan yde et værdifuldt bidrag til vores udfordringer med klima, forurening og tab af biodiversitet: Vadehavet er et naturligt og artsrigt økosystem, hvis typiske habitat spiller en vigtig rolle i forbindelse med kulstofbinding. Ved siden af dets enestående universelle værdi er det endnu en grund til at beskytte det for nuværende og fremtidige generationer. Vadehavsministrene fra Danmark, Tyskland og Nederlandene underskriver en fælles erklæring om de næste fire år af det trilaterale samarbejde om beskyttelse af Vadehavet (TWSC). Den 15. maj 2023 blev Wilhelmshaven-erklæringen fremlagt i forbindelse med et møde i Vadehavsbestyrelsen, TWSC's styringsorgan, i Esbjerg, Danmark, som opfølgning på den 14. trilaterale regeringskonference, der blev afholdt i Wilhelmshaven, Tyskland, i november 2022.

Wilhelmshaven-erklæringen, der har titlen "Together for ONE Wadden Sea World Heritage", forpligter sig til at beskytte Vadehavets enestående universelle værdi som det største ubrudte tidevandsområde i verden . Ud over naturbeskyttelse er de overordnede emner i erklæringene, at skabe en fælles retning for bæredygtig udvikling, modvirkning af og tilpasning til klimaforandringer, kommunikation, partnerengagement og forbindelser uden for Vadehavet. Ministrene understreger med deres støtte, at øge partnerengagementet er hilst velkommen i den trilaterale partnerskabsnetværk (Partnership Hub) som fokuserer på grænseoverskridende og tværsektorielt samarbejde ud over det statslige samarbejde. De anerkender også det væsentlige bidrag fra det videnskabelige trilaterale program komité og det 15. internationale videnskabelige vadehavssymposium (2021) som grundlag for den nylige lancering af det trilaterale call med € 15 mio. Ministrene hilser også udtrykkeligt velkommen og erklærer deres støtte til inddragelsen af unge, der er indledt på trilateralt plan med en ungdomskonference i Sankt-Peter Ording, Tyskland, i 2022.

Med den globale tredobbelte krise med klimaændringer, tab af biodiversitet og forurening in mente erklærer ministrene endvidere, at naturlige økosystemfunktioner skal bevares gennem effektiv beskyttelse, mens der også er et presserende behov for klimatilpasningsforanstaltninger baseret på naturlige tilgange. Internationalt samarbejde uden for Vadehavet er fortsat en vigtig investering i det trilaterale samarbejde, navnlig langs den øst-atlantiske trækrute, hvor Vadehavet er et vigtigt sted for trækfugle.

Med Wilhelmshaven-erklæringen er der efter fire års arbejde blevet vedtaget et nøgledokument til bedre koordinering af de forskellige nationale og regionale forvaltningstilgange: „Den integreret forvaltningsplan for ONE Wadden Sea World Heritage" (SIMPén). Ministrene erklærede, at de vil fremme planens gennemførelse for, at opnå fremskridt med hensyn til bæredygtig forandring af eksisterende og kommende menneskelige aktiviteter som fiskeri, skibsfart, turisme, energi og kystbeskyttelse på en trilateral og koordineret måde.

Erklæring fra Danmarks miljøminister Magnus Heunicke
“Jeg er glad for, at Danmark i sin rolle som formand for det trilaterale Vadehavssamarbejde har mulighed for at fortsætte det stærke samarbejde mellem de tre nationer, der deler Vadehavet mellem sig, og jeg ser frem til løbende at bygge videre på det stærke danske lokale engagement i det trilaterale Vadehavssamarbejde.”

Erklæring fra Christianne van der Wal Nederlandenes minister for natur- og kvælstofpolitik
“Jeg er meget glad for, at vi har kunnet underskrive Wilhelmshaven-erklæring. Vadehavets økosystem er under hårdt pres. Vi er nødt til at reducere virkningerne af alle aktiviteter i det nederlandske Vadehav for at genoprette balancen mellem natur og økonomi og bevare vores enestående universelle værdi. Det vil vi gøre ved hjælp af de aftaler, vi har indgået i erklæringen, og ved at gennemføre den integrerede fælles forvaltningsplan. Jeg vil sørge for, at Nederlandene vil yde et solidt bidrag til gennemførelsen af denne plan.”

Erklæring fra Steffi Lemke, Tysklands forbundsminister for miljø, naturbeskyttelse, nuklear sikkerhed og forbrugerbeskyttelse
“I lyset af krisen med klimaændringer, forurening og tab af biodiversitet vokser presset på Vadehavet og dets unikke biodiversitet. Derfor er det så meget desto mere presserende, at de tre Vadehavslande - Tyskland, Danmark og Nederlandene - arbejder tæt og produktivt sammen for at fremme beskyttelsen af vores have og kyster. Vi har aftalt effektive foranstaltninger til dette formål i Wilhelmshaven-erklæringen.”

Fælles erklæring fra miljøministrene Christian Meyer (Niedersachsen), Tobias Goldschmidt (Slesvig-Holsten) og senator Jens Kerstan fra Hamburg
“Som tyske delstater er det både en ære og vores fælles ansvar at bevare Vadehavet, hvor vores nationalparker er kernen i bevarelsen. Samarbejdet med befolkningen i regionen er afgørende for dette. Derfor er det vigtigt at fortsætte med at styrke partnerskaber og samarbejde inden for det trilaterale samarbejde og ud over det.”

Medlemslandene i det trilaterale vadehavssamarbejde mødes hvert fjerde år på en trilateral regeringskonference for at drøfte fælles opgaver og mål og underskrive en ny erklæring. På Wilhelmshaven-konferencen i november 2022 kunne erklæringen ikke underskrives på den sædvanlige måde, da den danske regering på det tidspunkt var i en dannelsesproces. Underskrivelsen blev udskudt til det første møde i Vadehavsrådet efter konferencen. Formandskabet for det trilaterale Vadehavssamarbejde i 2022-2026 varetages af Kongeriget Danmark. Den næste trilaterale regeringskonference er planlagt til 2026.

>>> Fuldstændig erklæring

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Wadden Sea mindfulness exercises focus of PROWAD Link workshop

annika — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 20:43:35 +0000

Wadden Sea mindfulness exercises focus of PROWAD Link workshop annika 8th November, 2022

03.11.2022

On 27 October 2022, an evaluation workshop organised by the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park Authority took place with regional stakeholders. The focus of the workshop was the concept "Me & the Wadden Sea - Mindfulness Exercises", a model compilation of exercises developed on behalf of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park Authority by „Businessbar – Personal- und Organisationsentwicklung, YOGA und Mee(h)r“, a coaching and consulting small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs).

The aim was to set impulses for mindfulness a way to connect with the inner self and with the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Thus, the positive effects of experiencing nature on the mental health of guests and locals are promoted as well as an emotional connection with the Wadden Sea is fostered. Furthermore, the exercise set is a starting point for a sustainable upgrading of the services of SMEs in the region in the field of wellness and well-being and a step towards a deepened cooperation of this sector with the National Park Authority. The expertise of potential users and multipliers was sought for development and evaluation. All workshop participants, representing mindfulness and yoga coaches, accommodations and touristic organisations, received the exercises in advance.

At the event group exercises were tested together and the feedback processed. The overall conclusion was very positive, the exercises were seen as useful and enriching, and the workshop was also valued as an opportunity for cross-sectoral networking.

The workshop took place in the framework of Interreg B project PROWAD Link.

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Decrease in number of harbour seals observed in the Wadden Sea

annika — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:26:03 +0000

Decrease in number of harbour seals observed in the Wadden Sea annika 28th October, 2022

01.11.2022

Harbour seals, the most well-known seal species in the Wadden Sea, are monitored annually through aerial surveys that cover the entire Wadden Sea World Heritage site and the island of Helgoland. The surveys are conducted during the pupping season in June and moulting season in August, when seals can be observed more frequently on the sandbanks during low tide. The 2022 count results show a decrease of 22% in pup numbers and a 12% decrease in seal counts during the moulting season compared to counts in 2021.

In June, 8,514 pups were counted in the Wadden Sea compared to the 2021 count of 10,903 pups. Decreasing numbers were observed in each of the Wadden Sea regions. In Denmark, pup numbers decreased by 18%, in Schleswig-Holstein by 25%, in Lower Saxony and Hamburg by 17%, and in the Netherlands a drop of 22% compared to 2021 was recorded. One pup was observed on Helgoland.

During the moulting season in August 2022 the number of seals counted decreased in all areas, except for Denmark, where an increase of 106% was recorded. In total, 23,652 harbour seals were spotted in the Wadden Sea area, making these the lowest numbers counted since 2011. In Schleswig-Holstein, 8,384 seals were counted (-5% compared to 2021) and at Helgoland, 98 seals were counted (-16%). With 7,548 seals recorded, the Netherlands reported a decrease of -8% from 2021. Numbers in Lower Saxony and Hamburg dropped sharply to 4,822 (-42% from 2021). In this area, change in survey methods in parts of the area that allowed a clearer distinction between harbour and grey seal may have resulted in lower numbers being counted, but this change can only partly explain the drop in numbers.

It is currently unclear what may have caused the decrease in counted numbers of both pups and moulting seals to decrease. It may be that the population is approaching the carrying capacity of the environment and is thus starting to be limited by resources, most likely food. “If the population is facing density dependence, we would expect pups to be most challenged to cope with limited resources. This would result in higher pup and juvenile mortality and stagnating population growth. After a period, this would affect the number of breeding females, leading to stagnation of pup number as well. This year’s counts are in line with such a development, but significantly lower than what we would expect. However, we cannot draw firm conclusions based on a single year’s observations” says Anders Galatius, lead author of the report. Overall, the results highlight the need for the ongoing trilateral monitoring, but also additional studies to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these changes.

Harbour seals, as well as grey seals, are the top marine predators in the Wadden Sea. As part of the monitoring work conducted by the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation, the trilateral Expert Group Marine Mammals coordinates the counts and harmonizes the data from across the Wadden Sea region. The harbour seal is trilaterally protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea (WSSA) concluded under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

Full harbour seal report

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Webinar: Wadden Sea Tourism Radar

annika — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:16:59 +0000

Webinar: Wadden Sea Tourism Radar annika 5th October, 2022

Do we need limits for tourism growth in the Wadden Sea World Heritage? And if so: where could they be and who should set them? The Wadden Sea Tourism Radar webinar on 28 October provides answers to these topical questions. The webinar has an English and a German part: The German session will be held from 10 to 11.00 CEST, the English session from 12-13.00 CEST.

In the framework of the Interreg project PROWAD Link and in cooperation with the Tourism Research Institute NIT, the World Wide Funds For Nature (WWF) developed the "Wadden Sea Tourism Radar" - a guideline that supports tourism communities in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Area in making their tourism development more sustainable by identifying undesirable developments at an early stage. Based on defined criteria, the radar asks whether the current tourism activities at the study site negatively affect the quality of life for people, animals and plants and endanger those values for which the Wadden Sea has been recognised as a World Heritage Site. If this is the case, the degree of impairment is determined and appropriate measures are agreed to return to a healthy and sustainable level. The radar has already been tested on Borkum, Ameland and in St. Peter-Ording and is now available for use in other locations.

In this webinar, we will first briefly present the background against which the Wadden Sea Tourism Radar was developed, its objectives and how it is applied. At the English session, the introduction is followed by Sjon de Haan (Wadden Sea World Heritage Coordinator, Ameland), who will talk with us about first experiences with the application of the method on the island of Ameland. At the German session, Göran Sell (Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH) and Sebastian Rischen (Stabsstelle Nachhaltigkeit & Naturerlebnis bei der Tourismus-Zentrale St. Peter-Ording) are invited guest speakers. During the webinar there is the possibility to ask written questions, which will be answered directly if possible.

Presentation and moderation:
Anja Szczesinski (WWF) and Wolfgang Günther (NIT)

Guests:
German session: Göran Sell (Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH) and Sebastian Rischen (Stabsstelle Nachhaltigkeit & Naturerlebnis bei der Tourismus-Zentrale St. Peter-Ording)
English session: Sjon de Haan (Wadden Sea World Heritage Coordinator, Ameland)

The PROWAD Link event is organised by WWF together with the Tourismus-Agentur Nordsee (TANO), the Nordsee Tourismus Service (NTS), the Wadden Sea National Park Authorities of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat.

Please register until 27 October, 12.00 CEST, using the form below:

28.10.2022

Online

Wadden Sea serves as pilot region to UNESCO on environmental DNA sampling

annika — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 08:18:14 +0000

Wadden Sea serves as pilot region to UNESCO on environmental DNA sampling annika 23rd September, 2022

23.09.2022

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris is conducting a global citizen science initiative on environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling in the UNESCO World Heritage marine sites. The 50 sites form a network with worldwide importance for the protection of biodiversity. The Wadden Sea World Heritage site was selected one of the pilot regions in the eDNA expedition project (www.unesco.org/en/edna-expeditions) and the first of 25 sites to do the sampling. From 21-26 September 2022, samples will be collected at five different locations along the Wadden Sea coast, coordinated by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS).

Ocean species shed DNA into the water around them. The genetic material from waste, mucus or cells in one litre of water can determine the species richness in a given area, without the need to actually extract organisms from their environment. The cost effective, ethical nature of eDNA sampling has the potential to revolutionize knowledge about ecosystems and species diversity and to inspire the next generation of ocean researchers. By collecting the samples, the project helps measure marine biodiversity and the impacts of climate change on the distribution patterns of marine life across UNESCO World Heritage marine sites.

The eDNA project is supported by citizen scientists. In the Wadden Sea, children with help of site managers and NGOs are involved in the sampling. UNESCO’s aim is to through the participation of local youth in the collection of eDNA, raise awareness of the importance of the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage marine sites. “This is an innovative approach that we are honoured to be part of”, says Bernard Baerends, CWSS Executive Secretary. “As one Wadden Sea, we work together to support the eDNA expeditions initiative, and thereby the global network, sharing a snapshot of marine life in our World Heritage site. The citizen science approach is also an ideal opportunity to inspire and educate the next generation of ocean scientists.” The Wadden Sea is of Outstanding Universal Value and as home for many species and is of global importance for many migratory species such as marine mammals, birds and fish. The sampling was done near Esbjerg (Denmark), at Nordstrand, Neuwerk and Wilhelmshaven (Germany), and will be conducted on Texel (Netherlands) together with the Danish Wadden Sea National Park, the German Wadden Sea National Park Authorities and the Dutch Waddenvereniging.

The eDNA project focuses on fish, which is also a strong focus within the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. In the framework of the so-called Swimway Initiative, fish experts from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands work together in the Expert Group Swimway. The initiative has a formulated vision and action plan to deepen the understanding of as well as create public awareness on fish migration. The eDNA data will further complement the regular fish monitoring done in the Wadden Sea within the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme. “We are quite excited for the results and hope to find eDNA traces of rarities such as sharks and rays or even believed-to-be former inhabitants of the Wadden Sea,” says Baerends.

The data collection period in all sites with end in April 2023. All data will be made available to the site management and be integrated in the open access ocean database “UNESCO Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)”.

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