© Martin Stock / LKN.SH
MEKUN: Protecting the oceans
Have a safe journey in the Wadden Sea – the North Sea Navigation Ordinance
The North Sea is not only a habitat for countless animal and plant species, but also a heavily utilised federal waterway. Utilisation and nature conservation meet here - and that is precisely why there are rules that ensure order. One of the most important is the North Sea Navigation Ordinance.
The Wadden Sea is both a national park and a federal waterway. It is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure the protection of this ecosystem, which also serves as a shipping route and is a popular area for water sports. The legal instrument for this is the North Sea Navigation Ordinance: it is a regulation issued by the Federal Ministry of Transport that applies equally to the North Sea off the coasts of Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein.
What does the regulation govern?
Similar to the road traffic regulations on land, the North Sea Navigation Ordinance stipulates how, when, and where certain watercraft may navigate in national parks. It is a compromise designed to harmonize nature and humans and minimize potential disturbances that may result from navigating watercraft in the Wadden Sea National Parks. As on the road, not everything and not every speed is permitted in order to protect sensitive ecosystems and, in particular, species such as seals, porpoises and waterfowl and wading birds.
Certain areas are designated for sports such as kitesurfing and wingfoiling. In Schleswig-Holstein, there are 22 spots with a total area of almost 13,000 hectares.
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Spatial restrictions
• The areas of protection zone 1 that require special protection are designated as general protection areas. Drying out and other activities within the general protection areas are only permitted at designated exit and rest areas.
• Special protection areas are areas that primarily serve to protect seals and birds. During the respective protection periods, these areas may only be navigated within the marked fairways in order to allow the animals to breed, rest, moult, or raise their young as undisturbed as possible.
• In protection zone 2 running aground is permitted everywhere.
Speed limits
• In the outer area of the national parks, a maximum speed of 16 knots (1 knot = 1.85 kilometers per hour) applies. For commercial vessels, certain high-speed corridors have been established in which speeds of up to 24 knots are permitted. An overview is provided by the dynamic map.
• In the inner area – essentially the areas of the Wadden Sea between the mainland and the islands and Halligen – the standard speed limit is 12 knots. Within fairways, speeds of up to 16 knots are permitted. If special protected areas may also be navigated outside certain protection periods away from the fairways, the maximum speed limit of 8 knots applies.
Certain areas are designated for sports such as kitesurfing and wingfoiling. In Schleswig-Holstein, there are 22 spots with a total area of almost 13,000 hectares. An overview of the individual kitesurfing spots and their specific regulations can also be found on the Map.
© Martin Stock / LKN.SH
Updated navigation regulations for the North Sea
The current regulation was enacted in 2023. The new version is based on a joint proposal by the three states of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and Hamburg, which was developed on the basis of regional discussions between the relevant authorities, water sports organizations, shipping companies and nature conservation associations.
The reasons for the new version are the expansion of national parks over the last 30 years, the inclusion of new water sports and the dynamic development of the Wadden Sea: seal and protected areas should naturally be located where the animals actually live.
Why is the new navigation regulation a compromise?
Due to its unique characteristics, the Wadden Sea has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and therefore requires a particularly high level of protection. However, people and regional businesses with their diverse needs also live, vacation and conduct business here. This includes good accessibility to the islands and Halligen by boat.
While conservationists called for stricter regulations, which must also be implemented due to legal requirements, e.g., in the National Park Act, there were fears of economic losses. Water sports enthusiasts also complained about restrictions on their freedom.
© Martin Stock / LKN.SH
Why is the regulation still so important?
Despite all the controversy, the navigation regulation is a crucial step toward protecting the North Sea. Without clear rules, the Wadden Sea suffers. Striking a balance between use and conservation is difficult, but in the long term, everyone benefits. Nature is preserved, tourism remains sustainable, and shipping is managed more intelligently. The regulations are also more understandable and manageable than in the old regulation.
The North Sea Navigation Regulation shows how complex it is to manage marine areas. But it is also an opportunity: an opportunity to preserve the North Sea as a unique habitat for future generations and to continue to make it accessible on the water.
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