Fifteen Bachelor’s and Master’s students from the Wadden Sea region and beyond have completed a ten-day learning journey exploring one of the world’s most distinctive coastal ecosystems.

This year’s event focused on the importance of large-scale protected areas for the long-term conservation of the unique Wadden Sea ecosystem.

The hybrid event with in-person and online participation will be part of the 15th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE 2026) in Brest, France.

In the 2025-2026 survey season, researchers counted 3,385 seal pups and 12,497 grey seals during the moulting season, confirming further population growth across the region.

A series of practical guidance documents has been developed to support partners in integrating gender considerations throughout project implementation.