CREATE II
**Alt-text:** Hand-drawn infographic titled "Conservation vs Use in Marine Protected Areas," illustrating the conflict between preserving marine biodiversity and human activities. At the center is a map of the North Sea (Nordsee) showing marine protected zones (EEZ) and arrows indicating pressures from different countries (Germany - DE, Netherlands - NL, Denmark - DK). The right side represents biodiversity conservation with drawings of sea animals like a porpoise and fish. The left shows stakeholders discussing solutions, labeled "How to protect our biodiversity?" and "Stakeholder meeting 2023," leading to a stamp labeled "Compromise Reached." The bottom illustrates competing uses: wind turbines for energy production, beach tourism with a parasailer and beach chair, and maritime transport with a cargo ship. Top right, a woman labeled “Wiebke Homes” says, “We need to find a solution!”

DAM research mission ‘sustainMare’

Protecting the oceans and using them sustainably is the goal of the research mission ‘sustainMare’ by the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). The ZMT is part of the CREATE project, which in December 2024 was extended for another three years. The focus now is on innovation in marine monitoring, marine management, and marine education.

CREATE project

In the first phase of CREATE, concepts and action recommendations were developed to reduce the cumulative impacts of human use in the North and Baltic Seas. In Phase II, we are building on the established collaborations with various stakeholders from different sectors. State-of-the-art and non-invasive methods will be developed to assess biodiversity, seabed integrity, marine mammal health and water quality. In addition, institutional arrangements and social acceptance of regulations are analyzed. In collaboration with stakeholders educational programs will be to disseminate scientific results to the general public.

ZMT contribution

The ZMT study on the effectiveness of the whale sanctuary off Sylt and Amrum for harbour porpoise conservation in Phase I showed that comprehensive environmental education is of crucial importance for the social acceptance of  conservation measures. For this reason, ZMT is now developing educational formats and materials for the civil society and schoolchildren and supports exhibitions in national park houses, for example.

Project Report "Harbour porpoises in the German North Sea: Does the Whale Sanctuary deliver on its promise?" 

Contacts

  • Prof. Dr. Achim Schlüter
    +49 (0)421 23800 - 104
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    Details

  • Wiebke Homes
    +49 (0)421 23800 - 0
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    Details

CREATE II - Protection and sustainable use of marine ecosystems and biodiversity
Cooperation Partners: 10 partner institutions in Northern Germany
Research Locations: German North Sea
Project Duration: 01/12/2024 – 30/11/2027
Funding: BMFTR
Status: ZMT is leading WP3.3 Marine Education
ZMT Programme Area: PA1 - Coastal Resources and Sustainable Blue Economy | PA5 - Ocean Literacy, Equity and Leadership

 

Programme Areas

Working Groups

Other relevant links