Spotlight

Marine environment

Ray

The marine environment does not only include water, fish, ships, seabirds and other biological or chemical factors. Physical aspects and social development also play a role in the assessment of the marine environment. They must be taken into account in order to be able to make statements about the state of the marine environment. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) provides permanent information on the state of the North Sea and Baltic Sea through projects, documentation and monitoring, even in long-term observations. The BSH analyses oil or paraffin finds in the sea or on beaches in its own laboratories to determine from which ships they originate. Together with the water police, potential environmental offenders can thus be detected. In addition, the BSH measures the condition parameters in the North Sea and Baltic Sea with regard to nutrient content or investigates the condition of the seabed and sediments. In this way, pollutant loads can be determined or statements can be made about radioactive loads in the marine environment.

In addition to environmental protection, the BSH always considers the use of the oceans in all its tasks. How can safety at sea and sustainable use of the sea be ensured in the service of shipping without placing too great a burden on the marine environment?

Accreditation of the Marine Chemistry Laboratory

The BSH Marine Chemistry Laboratory is accredited by the German Accreditation Body according to the European standard DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The accreditation certificate shows for which procedures the BSH is accredited.

Akkreditierungsurkunde Prüflabor Chemie des Meeres (PDF, 2MB, Not barrier-free file.)