For the first time in the Federal Republic: Germany gets a commissioner for marine protection

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Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and the new marine protection officer Sebastian Unger

Photo: Sascha Hilgers

A commissioner for the protection of the seas: This post is being awarded for the first time in Germany.

At its meeting, the federal cabinet appointed Sebastian Unger, the former sub-department head for marine protection in the Ministry of the Environment, as the federal government's new marine commissioner.

As announced by the Ministry of the Environment, the new office is part of the portfolio of Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens).

The new marine commissioner is to represent the federal government in national and international negotiations on marine protection.

"Healthy seas are essential for climate protection and habitat for numerous animal and plant species," Lemke is quoted in the statement.

"With the Commissioner for the Sea, the federal government is creating a central position in German maritime policy."

"We also want to further strengthen our commitment internationally for ambitious and legally binding agreements to protect biological diversity on the high seas, the international deep sea or in the fight against plastic pollution of the oceans," said Unger on Wednesday.

The state of the seas is "critical" worldwide.

In his new role, he wants to work to better protect the oceans.

In the coalition agreement, the traffic light government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP agreed, among other things, to strengthen the ability of the seas to store climate-damaging carbon dioxide by rebuilding natural ecosystems.

In addition, it was stipulated that an immediate program for salvaging ammunition in the North Sea and Baltic Sea would be launched and that the quality of marine protection areas in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea would be improved.

Sebastian Unger is considered an expert in marine protection and sustainable use of the sea.

Previously, he was a group leader at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam, where he conducted research on oceans.

During this time he also acted as a consultant to governments, European institutions and international organizations, according to the Ministry of the Environment.

ani/dpa