German Wadden Sea faces gas drilling controversy and protests

A new offshore gas extraction tower has been erected near the German island of Borkum, extending drilling that already occurs in Dutch waters. A proposed treaty could allow similar gas production on the German side of the UNESCO‑listed Wadden Sea, sparking concern from environmental groups.

Local stakeholders—mayor, restaurant owners, fishermen, and scientists—were interviewed by journalists Steve Przybilla and Björn Göttlicher, who documented the region's changing ecosystem, rising temperatures and competing interests. Protesters from Fridays for Future and the German Environmental Aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) organized an international camp on Borkum in September, opposing the drilling project.

The RiffReporter project "Watten Sea – is the level surpassed?" compiled a year‑long investigation featuring fishers, marine biologists, and municipal politicians, highlighting the tension between energy extraction and conservation of the unique coastal landscape.