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A school of fish swims by coral reefs at the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland
Image: Matt Curnock/James Cook University/AFP

Oceans

Oceans cover more than two-thirds of the surface of the planet. They are at risk due to pollution, overfishing and other forms of damage such as deep-sea mining, oil and gas drilling. How can we protect our oceans?

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All Content on this topic

Wooden sign with bites taken out of it - reads Welcome to Chatham, home of the Great White

A great white neighbor

Communities along the Atlantic Coast of the US are learning to live with one of the most feared creatures of the deep.
September 13, 2016
humpback whale

Deep mystery: 11 facts about the five oceans

We once thought the oceans were flat and boring. We now know they are not. But there's still much more to discover.
ScienceSeptember 12, 2016
Reportage Helgoland Klimawandel in der Nordsee

Can our oceans be saved?

Marine biologist Karen Wiltshire studies the effects of climate change on the world's oceans.
ScienceSeptember 11, 201606:03 min
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Tsunami drill in Indian Ocean countries

Twenty-four countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India participated in a tsunami mock drill named IOWave16.
September 8, 201601:00 min
Sorge vor Aussterben von Borneo-Orang-Utans

Courageous conservation?

How can humans protect themselves and the environment? One thing is clear: the oceans, in particular, need our help.
September 7, 2016
Fish with bleached coral

Healthy ocean, stable climate

No protecting the climate without looking after the ocean.
September 6, 2016
Myanmar Mergui Archipel

Myanmar's marine paradise under threat

Scientists say the marine environment off the coast of Myanmar has been damaged in recent years.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 4, 201606:38 min
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A passive house in the mountains

With bird numbers down on the Indian Ocean's Mida Creek lagoon, eco-tourism could be a life-saver.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 3, 201603:42 min
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Kenya's tidal inlet under threat

An initiative in Kenya is giving children a better understanding of how marine ecosystems work.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 3, 201604:05 min
Drone photo of Great Barrier Reef (Photo: Karen Joyce/James Cook University)

Drones: cheerful new helper

DW spoke with environmental scientist Karen Joyce about how drones are revolutionizing research and conservation.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 31, 2016
Bleached coral at Great Barrier Reef

Thanks to drones, new view of the Great Barrier Reef

Drones help improve scientific research around the world - and also provide stunning aerial photos.
August 31, 20166 images
Great Barrier Reef coral reef up close

Info-film: Ocean acidification

Oceans are becoming more acidic, which is bad for marine life and humans. We explain why it's happening.
August 22, 2016
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Why are oceans becoming more acidic?

Oceans are becoming more acidic. That's bad for marine life and humans too. But why is it happening?
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 20, 201602:29 min
Global Ideas Bild der Woche KW 32 Ölbohrinsel gestrandet Großbritannien

Grounded

August 12, 2016
Ny Alesund Spitzbergen Forschungsdorf

25 years of German research in the Arctic

The tiny settlement of Ny Alesund eventually found its true destiny as an international Arctic research village.
August 10, 201613 images

Protecting natural wonders in the high seas

UNESCO is considering adding sites in the high seas to the World Heritage List.
August 4, 2016
Infografik Vorgeschlagene UNESCO-Weltnaturerbestätten auf Hoher See englisch

Wonders of the High Seas

Unesco experts think these five ocean locations should be added to the list of World Heritage Sites.
August 4, 20167 images
Hawaii Vulkanausbruch Videostill aus Reuters Video

Lava spills into ocean

Beautiful but dangerous: A lava flow from the Kilauea volcano has reached the ocean.
July 29, 201600:40 min
Symbolbild Plastiktüten Verbot Umweltschutz

A battle against plastic bag waste

The high rise in the use of plastic bags in Cambodia is a growing problem due to its adverse impact on environment.
July 22, 2016
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Gedenkfeier Verschwinden Flug MH370

MH370 search suspension decided

Indian Ocean searches decide to suspend hunt for MH370
July 22, 2016
Kanada Iqaluit, Nunavut Arctic Sea Ice 5 Eisschollen

Living Planet

In this edition, we take to the water to swim with sharks, explore corals and test the thickness of Canadian sea ice.
July 14, 2016
Kanada Iqaluit, Nunavut Arctic Sea Ice 5 Eisschollen

Ice, ocean, sky

Sailing to coral reefs in Hawaii, swimming with sharks in South Africa and testing sea ice in Arctic Canada.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 14, 201629:59 min
Fish underwater world (photo: Stephan Jansen dpa)

Living Planet: Climate change and ocean ecosystems

DW talks to Susan Avery who's with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution about the status of our oceans.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 14, 201612:39 min
Tiger shark (photo: Imago OceanPhoto)

Living Planet: Swimming with sharks

Would you swim with a shark? You can get to know these marine residents up close and personal in Durban, South Africa.
Nature and EnvironmentJuly 14, 201604:21 min
Auswilderungscamps für Orang Utans in Indonesien

Bornean orangutan on verge of extinction

The Bornean orangutan, whale shark and a species of hammerhead shark are in danger of being wiped out.
July 9, 2016
Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht - Expedition Uhrwerk Ozean

In search of the ocean's currents

In search of the ocean's currents
June 28, 201612 images
Arktis Meereis

New UNEP director: Nature's chief protector

Erik Solheim is the new director of UNEP, the UN's environment program. Here are some of his greatest challenges.
June 27, 20166 images
Korallenriffe Hawaii

Demand to save the world's coral reefs

Environmental changes are causing the world's reefs to become stressed. Experts demand more be done to protect them.
June 25, 2016
Australien Meeresschutzgebiet Great Barrier Reef Breitkeulen-Sepia

Time running out to save the world's coral reefs

Environmental changes are causing the world's reefs to become stressed. Experts demand more be done to protect them.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 25, 20168 images
BdW Global Ideas Ghana Plastikmüll am Strand

An ocean of plastic

June 23, 2016
Lionfish near Gilli Banta Island (near Komodo, Indonesia) - photo credit Alexander Vasenin

Poisonous fish spreads in Mediterranean

The invasive lionfish is spreading in the Mediterranean, warn conservationists. A possible solution? Eat them.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 22, 2016
Tasmanien See-Elefanten mit Tracking-Device

Tracking leviathans

June 16, 2016
Barentssee Fang von Kabeljau

Unsustainable EU fishing?

Environmentalists say policy reform hasn't prevented overfishing.
June 15, 2016
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Taking action against plastic waste

A prototype catamaran waste collector disposes of plastic waste from the seabed.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 11, 201602:49 min
A plastic bag floating in the water next to a fish

Plastic waste

A prototype catamaran waste collector disposes of plastic waste from the seabed.
June 10, 2016
Große Welle

The perfect wave

Humans have been fascinated by waves for a long time, with surfers on the hunt for the next wall of water to ride.
June 9, 2016
USA Hund-Surfing Wettbewerb Huntington Beach Kalifornien

The perfect wave

There's no surfing without waves - but what has to happen for the sea to rise up?
June 9, 20167 images
Vietnam Proteste in Hanoi gegen Fischsterben

Living Planet: Rising tensions over Vietnam's fish deaths

Vietnam's seafood industry has taken a hit after scores of dead fish started washing up along the country's coastline. Local fishermen say a nearby steel mill has polluted their fish stocks, and are demanding answers from the government.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 9, 201606:40 min
Ein Fisch schwimmt nahe einer Plastiktüte im Roten Meer

Fighting the plastic flood

Millions of tons of plastic waste are clogging the world's oceans, harming fish and other marine life.
June 8, 20168 images
Trawler

Trawler trouble

Trawlers are threatening the livelihoods and ocean territory of fishermen on the tiny island of São Tomé and Príncipe.
June 6, 2016
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Eco-at-Africa - The Environment Magazine

In this week's eco@africa, we visit a tiny African island where some fishermen are taking a stand.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 4, 201626:30 min
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The realm of the manta rays

How a marine biologist is championing the cause of threatened manta rays off the coast of Africa.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 4, 201605:14 min
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Fishermen face off with big trawlers

Fishermen on a tiny island off Africa's west coast are taking a stand against illegal trawlers.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 4, 201604:05 min
Afrika Illegaler Fischfang aufgebrachter Trawler

Preview: Drama on the high seas

Fishermen on the tiny island of São Tomé off the west coast of Africa are taking a stand against illegal trawlers destroying the marine habitat - and their earnings.
June 3, 2016
BdW Global Ideas Sylt Seenelke

Abundant life

June 2, 2016
Great Barrier Reef Korallenriff

Mass bleaching of Great Barrier Reef

The impact of mass bleaching is more severe than expected. Large parts of the Great Barrier Reef have been destroyed.
May 30, 201600:48 min
Sea ice off Svalbard

Your next fish burger won't deplete the Arctic

The fishing industry has voluntarily signed an agreement to stay out of previously iced-over Arctic areas.
May 25, 2016

Funding biodiversity

Searching for cash to save whales, dolphins and rare marine life.
May 17, 2016

Funding biodiversity

Searching for cash to save whales, dolphins and rare marine life.
May 17, 2016
Südafrika Fund Wrackteile Malaysia Airlines Flug MH370

Investigators believe debris came from MH370

International experts are "almost certain" two more piece of debris they have analyzed are from MH370.
May 12, 2016