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Alarm in the Wadden Sea: Biodiversity is dwindling – oystercatchers in danger!
On July 11, 2025, scientists report on the decline in species in the Wadden Sea, especially among oystercatchers.
Alarm in the Wadden Sea: Biodiversity is dwindling – oystercatchers in danger!
The Wadden Sea, one of the most species-rich and dynamic ecosystems in Europe, is the focus of current research. A team from the universities of Oldenburg and Groningen has found alarming changes in biodiversity. The results show that the oystercatcher in particular should be seen as the loser of the change. Over the past 25 years, the population of these birds in Schleswig-Holstein's Wadden Sea has declined by half, increasing concern among conservationists.
As the NDR reports, the decline in oystercatchers is symptomatic of a broader trend that researchers have observed. In recent decades, the biodiversity of the Wadden Sea has changed significantly. While populations of native species such as seagrass and cod are declining, heat-loving species such as the spoonbill are increasing.
A changing landscape
The Wadden Sea stretches over 500 kilometers along the North Sea coast of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and is home to millions of migratory birds and numerous invertebrates. But the current change is not only worrying, it is also a clear sign of the influence of climate change, invasive species and human intervention. Another rapporteur, science.de, highlights that the immigrant Pacific oyster in particular has expanded significantly, leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem.
The Wadden Sea Conservation Station therefore calls for urgent measures: a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas and the creation of refuges for birds on coasts heavily used by tourists are the central concerns of this organization. The affected regions, such as the districts of Steinburg and Dithmarschen as well as the Eiderstedt peninsula and the offshore island of Helgoland, must be given particular focus in these initiatives in order to preserve biodiversity.
A call to action
Given this serious situation, it is more important than ever to take measures to protect and regenerate the habitat in the Wadden Sea. The researchers' numbers speak for themselves: There are more losers than winners among species. It is a clear call to everyone who wants to work to preserve nature. The broadcast times of NDR 1 Welle Nord are a very good approach to draw attention to these topics and provide information about them every working day at 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The changes in the Wadden Sea are not only a local problem, but also highlight the global biodiversity crisis. If we don't act now, it could soon be too late, and then only memories of the former diversity will flourish at this point.