How it began
It was a small boat that introduced me to the sea over 30 years ago. I did not at first have conservation in mind, simply found it wonderful to be at sea with my family. However, when I encountered whales and saw how beautiful they were, my enthusiasm for them bred a love and respect for the ocean.
This bond with the animals signifies a responsibility for them. It was not, however, until late in 2005, when a woman scientist from Canada called me in despair to describe naval sonar’s effect on whales and deplore the fact that no research funds were available, that I knew I must do more. The more deeply I immersed myself in the subject, the more clearly I recognized the connection between an unimpaired ocean and a world good for us humans to live in. I was anxious to preserve this sensitive balance. Two years later the Okeanos Foundation for the Sea was born. Since then, we have become a small team of marine enthusiasts working on focal points of interest in order to conserve the fascinating world of the deep.
If you have any suggestions or criticisms relating to our projects, our website, or the Okeanos Foundation, I would welcome your emails.
Dieter Paulmann
Preamble
The ocean fascinates many people because of its contradictory nature. On the one hand there is its liberating immensity, the shimmering beauty of its countless shades of blue, and its numerous inhabitants; on the other, its unfathomable depths and its unpredictability, which manifests itself in tales of sea monsters and disasters like the sinking of the Titanic or the catastrophic tsunami of 2004. But the ocean is also, and above all, an essential part of our environment—one without which life on earth would be impossible in its present form. But neither the fascination it holds nor our present knowledge of the connection between human activities and their effect on the ocean—and, thus, on climate—have caused human societies to change their behaviour, which is leading to the destruction of the marine habitat, marine mammals and other creatures, and, consequently, to the destruction of humanity’s basis of existence.
The ocean’s existence continues to be imperilled by man-made environmental pollution (oil slicks, sewage, chemicals, CO2 production), noise pollution (overly loud ships’ engines, sonar experiments), overfishing, oil extraction, and tourism. The reasons for such behaviour may include ignorance, habit and indifference as well as the profit motive. But only if this changes and human societies rediscover a balance between their own needs and those of the ocean will its resources and habitats be preserved for the benefit of all living creatures. If not, future generations will encounter difficulties with their living space, whose extent is wholly unforeseeable. The signs are that we shall have to grapple far sooner than originally thought with the consequences of the sins against climate committed by previous generations and the present generation in particular.
If the ocean and its inhabitants are to be preserved for future generations, the present generation must modify its behaviour. For this to happen, mental stimuli must be exerted in order to bring about the requisite change of attitude. Only those who have sufficient information to become acquainted with the ocean’s multifarious contradictions can develop the respect and enthusiasm required to espouse its cause. This must be achieved by the furtherance of scientific research, by acquiring knowledge of other cultures and their relations with the sea, and by providing the general public with all the information gleaned to date.
Imprint
Responsible for the content of this website:
Okeanos – Stiftung für das Meer
Foundation for the Sea
Auf der Marienhoehe 17, D-64297 Darmstadt
Tel: +49 6151 307670
Fax: +49 6151 3076720
Email: mail@okeanos-foundation.org
Web: www.okeanos-foundation.org
Chairman of the Board of the Trust:
Dipl. rer. pol. Dieter Paulmann
Person responsible according to German Press Law:
Dipl. rer. pol. Dieter Paulmann
Okeanos - Stiftung für das Meer is an independent foundation under German civil law (Stiftung des privaten Rechts), registered in the public register of trusts of the German federal state of Hessen (Stiftungsverzeichnis des Bundeslandes Hessen).
Responsible public supervisory authority:
Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, Luisenplatz 2, D-64283 Darmstadt
Photographs:
Rui Camillo, Christoph Gerick, Boris Paulmann, Kavika Knight, Fabien Michenet
Tanja Winkler, Dieter Paulmann
Text and concept:
Dipl. biol. Tanja Winkler
Editors:
Dieter Paulmann und Tanja Winkler
Logo und Corporate Design:
Prof. Marian Nestmann, Muehltal
Design and Realisation:
Scholz & Volkmer, Wiesbaden GmbH
Legal disclaimer:
We have worked with utmost care on the content of our websites and on choosing links.
In spite of this care all the information on our websites is provided without guarantee of accuracy, completeness or how up-to-date it is.
Okeanos is not responsible for the content of third parties’ websites.