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.

Effective communication is key when working with stakeholders from different backgrounds. It is imperative to understand each other’s perspectives to reach a consensus on how best to implement sustainable solutions. But how do we communicate effectively?

Upon invitation of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS), the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park Authority (NPV HH) visited the Wilhelmshaven office on 8 June for personal exchange.

The Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation (TWSC), with the Wadden Sea Plan (2010) at its backbone, operates to conduct a shared policy and management strategy for the protection and sustainable management of the area, with the imperative of safeguarding its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

Since 2009, the Republic of Korea and the countries of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation have been in mutual exchange – on topics such as management, environmental education, and sustainable tourism, but also on the Wadden Sea’s experience in becoming a World Heritage Site.

Harald Marencic has been with the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat for 27 years. At the end of May 2023, he will retire.

As migratory birds are returning from their southern wintering grounds to their breeding sites in the Wadden Sea, in view of the experience in 2022, researchers and site managers are concerned about new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in colonially breeding birds.