Marine Conservation

Our oceans contain 97 percent of the world’s water resources. They are rich in biodiversity and supply natural resources, food as well as active substances for medicines. Furthermore, they store energy supplies, serve as routes of transport and offer high recreational value. In short, the value of the world’s oceans is immense – in social, environmental and economic terms.

Das Wattenmeer in Niedersachsen im Sonnenuntergang.

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Healthy oceans for greater biodiversity
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Historic breakthrough on ocean protection

Latest on Marine Conservation

Carsten Schenider und sein armenischer Kollege Hambardzum Matevosyan

Press Nature and Biological Diversity | 31.10.26

17th UN Biodiversity Conference wraps up: an honest assessment

A range of decisions was taken on many important issues at the 17th UN Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan. The outcomes include a response to the first global review of the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Schöner Sommersonnenuntergang in der Stadt Vanadzor, Armenien

Press Nature and Biological Diversity | 19.10.26

UN Biodiversity Conference

The World Nature Conference will focus on the question of what progress has been made since 2022 and how the goal of protecting at least 30 percent of land and marine areas by 2030 can still be achieved.

Press International | 05.10.26

UN Climate Change Conference: Pre-COP31 taking place in Fiji

The conference in Fiji will lay the political groundwork for the UN Climate Change Conference COP31 in Antalya in November. State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth will take part on behalf of Germany.

Press Sustainability | 29.06.26

Hamburg Sustainability Conference

The focus of the conference is on the crucial importance of environmental protection and climate action for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to send a clear message against deep-sea mining.

Press Marine Conservation | 16.06.26

State Secretary Flasbarth to attend the Our Ocean Conference

The 11th Our Ocean Conference, one of the most important international platforms for marine conservation diplomacy, is taking place in Mombasa, Kenya. The German delegation is led by State Secretary Flasbarth.

Schneider beim G7-Umweltministertreffen in Paris

Press International | 22.04.26

Minister Schneider at G7 Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Paris

Key topics of the meeting include strengthening marine conservation, addressing illegal fishing, financing biodiversity measures, and improving the protection of global water resources.

Press Nature and Biological Diversity | 17.04.26

Programme spearheads turnaround for peatland management in Germany

Carsten Schneider has unveiled a new funding program designed to facilitate the rewetting of 90,000 hectares of land over the next few years. Agriculture and forestry will continue to be practiced on this land.

Press Marine Conservation | 03.12.25

Germany joins the United Nations BBNJ Agreement

The German cabinet has approved two draft laws that will enable Germany to accede to the UN Convention on the Protection of the High Seas and implement it.

Press International | 16.10.25

Schneider attends G20 environment ministers' meeting in South Africa

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider will participate in the G20 climate and environment ministerial meeting in Cape Town. Priority topics are climate action, biodiversity conservation and marine protection.

Report Mobility | 15.10.25

Carsten Schneider on climate action in shipping

The member states of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are negotiating measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in London.

Press International | 22.07.25

High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York

Germany presented its third Voluntary National Review today at the United Nations in New York. Dr. Bärbel Kofler and Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter from the BMUKN jointly represented the German government in New York.

Press Marine Conservation | 13.06.25

International community sends signal for rules-based global marine action

With the adoption of the Nice Ocean Action Plan, the international community has committed to ambitious marine conservation and protection at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, which ends today.

Films on the topic of marine protection

Safely recovering and disposing of old munitions in the sea

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Oceans and climate protection – are they connected?

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Marine Conservation