MeerWissen Initiative

International Women's Day 🌊♀️💜

Seaweed farming has allowed women of the Vezo People in Madagascar to gain financial independence, while reducing strain on fish stocks.

🔗 Check out the full video here: meerwissen.org/news/improvi...

#MeerWissen

🔎 Co-Design Deep Dive Part 4

❔What does sustainability mean in the context of co-design?
❔How do we ensure that project results live beyond completion?
❔How do we deal with data and intellectual property in a fair and just manner?

🔗Co-Design Guidance: tinyurl.com/4e6dkuym

#MeerWissen

🌊 #EuropeanOceanDays2026 are in full swing!

At the Marine Knowledge for Ocean Health session, digital twins of the ocean took centre stage: a technology the #MANCOGA project uses to simulate marine systems & support better ocean governance. 🔬

🔗 tinyurl.com/27s6c8vf

#MeerWissen

Last week at the #OSM26 in Glasgow, Holger Brix and Edem Mahu shared exciting results from the MANCOGA project. They explored how mangroves can serve as nature-based solutions to coastal hazards along Ghana’s east coast.

👉 Discover the full MANCOGA impact story here: meerwissen.org/insights/man...

Studio Bonn – Bedrohte Schönheit Weltmeere YouTube video by Bundeskunsthalle

🇩🇪 1.5 hours panel exchange on world Oceans 🌊. Thanks to Bundeskunsthalle for invite & co-panelists Heike Vesper from @wwf.de, Katja Matthes from @geomarkiel.bsky.social & Pernille Weiss-Ehler from @ec.europa.eu
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYY1...

What is capacity development in Ocean Science? With Edem Mahu, University of Ghana

What is capacity development in Ocean Science?
#OceanDecade

oceandecade.org/news/ask-an-...

🐟👩‍🔬Science for ocean conservation

On Wednesday, Katja Matthes, Director of @geomarkiel.bsky.social, reaffirmed the role oceans play in international climate and energy policy.

🔗 to CLIMALG project with GEOMAR: tinyurl.com/3jp2c84s

@oceanknigge.bsky.social @blueactionfund.org @wwf.de @ec.europa.eu

👩‍🔬 Integrating co-design into project and partnership management

Part 3 of our Co-Design Deep-Dive Series focuses on project and partnership management.

Tune in next week for part 4!

Find the details of the co-design approach here: meerwissen.org/download/58/...

#MeerWissen #UNOceanDecade

OSM26 Your browser does not support iframes.

🌳 Learn about the MANCOGA research project at #OSM26!

Helmholtz-Zentrum #Hereon experts Joanna Staneva, Douglas Vieira da Silva and Holger Brix will be presenting Digital Twins of the Ocean and Nature-based Approaches as part of the MANCOGA project.

Tune in here: tinyurl.com/3hbnw58u

#MeerWissen

🚨 📽️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁

In Madagascar, the PaMo project has produced a video to enhance local knowledge and raise awareness about provisioning ecosystem services and mitigating climate change.

🔗View it here: tinyurl.com/hp5kf7ju

#MeerWissen #UNOceanDecade #GIZMadagascar

🌊🤝Engaging stakeholders in the co-design process

Part 2 of our Co-Design Deep-Dive Series focuses on drawing stakeholder engagement.

Tune in next week for part 3!

🔗Read the guidance here: meerwissen.org/download/58/...

#UNOceanDecade #CoDesign

@leibniz-zmt.de @geomarkiel.bsky.social

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen shares a message for the Opening Ceremony of #IPBES12 YouTube video by IPBES Secretariat

The first-ever Business and Biodiversity assessment report provides decision-makers clear evidence on how business depends on nature, how they impact it & what it means for risk, resilience and long-term value.
— @ingerandersen.bsky.social, @unep.org Exec. Director

🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhu-...

📋How can you apply a co-design approach to your own projects?

Part 1 of our Co-Design Deep Dive series is about finding a joint vision and a common understanding.

Tune in next week for part 2!
Read the guidance here: meerwissen.org/download/58/...

👩‍🔬 🌊 Highlighting the contribution of women to ocean science

Mkekali Juma studies how seagrasses can help mitigate pollution by nutrient sequestration as part of the SOMWAT project.

👉Read more about her research and experience here: tinyurl.com/mr48kcp4

#MeerWissen #UNOceanDecade #IDWGS

🪸🤝Responsibility of businesses in protecting biodiversity

New @ipbes.net Report on Business and Biodiversity: Collaboration with science and Indigenous and local knowledge is needed.

👉Check out the report here: tinyurl.com/4tfebyja

#MeerWissen #IPBES12 #BizBiodiversity #OceanScience

🌊 Bist Du unsere:n nächste:n Praktikant:in im Bereich Meeresschutz?

@giz.de sucht eine:n engagierte:n Praktikant:in für das Sektorvorhaben „Biodiversität – Umwelt – Meere“.

📍 Bonn
📅 20.04.2026 – 31.08.2026
🕒 Vollzeit
⏳ Bewerbungsschluss: 18.02.2026

👉 www.jobs.giz.de/index.php?ac=jobad&id=77646

🏝️👩‍🔬Reflecting on how to conduct coastal research

1. Reflect on performativity of research & perceptions of neutrality in anticipating the future of coasts
2. Act equitably in global partnerships
3. Engagement and willingness to innovate with society

tinyurl.com/2tzmsskp
@leibniz-zmt.de #MeerWissen

🌍 #WorldWetlandsDay2026

Sustainable water and ocean management start with listening and inviting all stakeholders at the decision-making table.

Through the co-design approach, we bring together traditional, local, and scientific knowledge to create solutions with lasting impact. 🌱🌊

#MeerWissen

❔Test your ocean knowledge with our ocean quiz! 2/2

👇Comment your score below!

Quiz sources:
Question 3: doi.org/10.1111/ddi....
Question 4: openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/c...

🐳🪸How much do you know about the ocean? 1/2

👉Read more on how MeerWissen Initiative fosters evidence-based ocean solutions and governance in Africa here: meerwissen.org/initiative/a...

Quiz sources:
Question 1: doi.org/10.1038/s432...
Question 2: doi.org/10.1016/j.en...

📢 📝 Midweek Metrics 3/3
Are mangroves effective for coastal protection?

DTO-enabled insights:
🔹 Scenario-based assessment of mangrove density and placement
🔹 7 What-If simulations
🔹 Coastal erosion reduced by up to 97%

👉 Check out the full research paper here: tinyurl.com/p526ee5j

#MeerWissen

🌊 What is a Digital Twin of the Ocean?

It is a dynamic, data-driven digital representation of the real ocean, continuously connected to observations and models. It evolves as new data becomes available and can be used to explore different scenarios of ocean change.

👇Check out how it works below:

'Choose now!': Ocean explorer Sylvia Earle's message of hope ahead of 'Blue Davos' Explorer Sylvia Earle, now 90, has been to the bottom of the ocean and brought us back a message of hope: we have the power to save nature and humanity.

🌊A blue thread for the ocean at #WEF26 #BlueDavos
🔹Sylvia Earle urged to “Choose now” for our ocean
🔹New WEF report on Blue Foods
🔹WEF launched #ACTOcean

🙌 Get inspired by Sylvia Earle’s words here: tinyurl.com/24e7bhpr
👉 Read the WEF Report here: tinyurl.com/234hnhya

#MeerWissen #OceanScience

🌊 Ocean economy to reach $5.1tn by 2050! (WEF, 2026)

MeerWissen provides the knowledge foundations to:
💰De-risk investment
🤝Inform governance
🌱Unlock nature-positive opportunities in coastal and marine areas

Read the report here: tinyurl.com/4ebj3we4

📸 : © SANBI/ Kerry Sink

#MeerWissen #WEF

📢📝Midweek Metrics 2/3

What are the effects of pollution on seagrass ecosystems?
1️⃣Seagrass becomes sparser and shorter
2️⃣Epiphyte biomass increases
3️⃣Sensitive animals decrease
4️⃣Tolerant animals increase

Check out the full paper here: tinyurl.com/2755c8ft

#MeerWissen #SOMWAT #OceanScience

🚨🌊 BBNJ has entered into force

From the perspective of the MeerWissen Initiative, BBNJ highlights the importance of:

🔹 Accessible, co-designed, and co-produced marine knowledge
🔹 Strong science–policy interfaces
🔹 Equitable participation of researchers worldwide

#BBNJ #HighSeas #MeerWissen

🤝 👩‍🔬 Why should you use a co-design approach?

🔸 Basis for collaboration and equal partnerships
🔸 Creates buy-in and support
🔸 Benefits society, including policymaking
🔸 Increases the chances of uptake and success

👉 Check out the MeerWissen Co-Design here: meerwissen.org/initiative/c...

📢 📝 Midweek Metrics 1/3

How to protect Mackerel Scad from overfishing in Tanzania? 🐟
🔹Limit the number of ring nets
🔹Implement seasonal fishing closures
🔹Upgrade fishing vessels to allow near-deep water fishing

👉 Check out the paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

#MeerWissen

🚨 Protected Planet has launched the World Database on Protected and Conserved Areas (WDPCA) - a new and unified database, merging the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and the World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM).

Learn more here: tinyurl.com/mr649ywy

Reflecting on 2025 and looking ahead to 2026 – key moments and gaps to be addressed ✨🌊

👉 Check out upcoming ocean events on our website here: meerwissen.org/events/

#MeerWissen #OceanConservation #OceanScience #UNOceanDecade