Governance-Analyse Walschutzgebiet

This study, primarily authored by Wiebke Homes as part of the CREATE project (work package 3), analyzes the governance structures of the Whale Sanctuary in the German North Sea, with a particular focus on the conservation of our only native cetacean species, the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). The Marine Protected Area Governance (MPAG) framework served as the methodological basis, through which a total of 36 governance instruments (so-called “incentives”) were systematically examined. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of existing governance arrangements in achieving ecological objectives.The findings reveal a number of strengths, especially in terms of participatory stakeholder engagement and communication. At the same time, weaknesses were identified in legal enforcement, cross-sectoral coordination, and the handling of external pressures such as international fisheries, maritime traffic, and the expansion of offshore wind energy - many of which lie beyond the direct jurisdiction of the sanctuary’s management. A central governance challenge is the so-called “protection gap” within the first 150 meters from the shoreline, where no effective legal protection currently exists. The study recommends strengthening regulatory frameworks, enhancing monitoring and enforcement, and systematically integrating ecological indicators and external stressors into governance assessments.

Thus, the report provides a practice-oriented contribution to improving adaptive and ecologically effective conservation strategies while also advancing the MPAG framework with regard to the complexity of social-ecological systems.