Partners in the Rewilding Dogger Banks Alliance are working to protect and restore Dogger Banks as the ecological beating heart of the North Sea. Their efforts to raise the profile of European ocean rewilding have made the initiative a highly regarded new addition to the European Rewilding Network.
Oscar Boss
From ancient land to marine wildlife paradise
Once upon a time, before the industrial era, the North Sea was teeming with marine life. But going further back, the seafloor itself is a thriving ecosystem, home to a rich diversity of terrestrial species. Until the end of the last ice age, people and animals could move freely between Britain and continental Europe dogland – A vast land bridge of hills, valleys and forests, rich in wildlife and a large population. Then the great ice caps melted, sea levels rose, Dogland slipped beneath the waves, and Britain became an island.
The highest part of Doggerland, and the last to disappear, is now known as Doug Bank. Today, this huge underwater sandbank stretches across British, Dutch, German and Danish waters, about 100 kilometers off the east coast of England. This important marine ecosystem, in many places just 15 meters below the surface, is a breeding ground for sharks, rays, herring and cod, as well as a rich feeding ground for whales, porpoises, seals and seabirds such as puffins and gannets.
Restoring the beating heart of the North Sea
In recognition of its ecological importance, Dogger Bank has been designated 3 Natura 2000 marine protected areas (Marine Reserve). However, despite its legal protection, it still faces serious ecological threats, including industrial fishing, energy extraction and intensive shipping. Destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling continue to destroy the seabed and destroy biodiversity, while large-scale fishing Offshore wind power projects It also has an increasingly negative impact on the ecosystem here.
In response to these threats, the Rewilding Dogger Bank initiative was launched in 2025 to restore Dogger Bank and protect the area's status as the beating heart of the North Sea. it is made of dogland foundationthe organization leads an international consortium of six other partners.
“Despite its deteriorating ecological condition, Dogger Bank is still home to a diverse range of marine life, from soft corals and sand eels to sharks and rays,” said Emilie Reuchlin, co-founder and director of the Dogger Bank. “Nature is resilient – if we protect Dogger Bank appropriately and restore parts of it, it can bounce back and become an engine for wider North Sea recovery, delivering huge benefits for nature, climate and society.”
Work together to increase wildlife recovery efforts
The Rewilding Dogger Bank program has just joined the growing ranks of Rewilding Europe European Rewilding Network. As a leader in marine wildlife restoration, the alliance will help grow the network’s collective expertise and impact in the field. Rewilding Europe itself is working to enhance coastal marine rewilding in existing operational landscapes where land and sea are closely connected – e.g. ord delta and velebit mountains – and plans to add one or two new coastal or ocean-focused landscapes to its portfolio by 2030.
“We are delighted to welcome Rewilding Dogger Bank to the network,” said Frans Schepers, Executive Director of Rewilding Europe. “Now is the perfect time for us to learn from the excellent work done by Emily and her team and work together to develop marine and coastal wildlife in Europe.”
“Joining a network means we can learn from other rewilders and be inspired by their work,” says Emilie Reuchlin. “In return, we will share our knowledge and lessons learned in building care communities, bringing together cross-border governments and stakeholders, restoring offshore reefs and improving representation and rights in remote ecosystems. We look forward to developing closer links with other initiatives and becoming part of the growing European wildlife family.”
Jalen Helmer
Start the healing process
The Dingo Bank initiative uses a three-pronged approach. It will actively restore habitat and wildlife, protect Dogger Banks from harmful human activities through legal intervention, and advocate for the right of marine life to survive and thrive through what it calls the Dogger Banks Academy. Dogger Banks Academy is an interdisciplinary research group that aims to develop new ways of thinking about the North Sea's valuable wild nature.
this horse musselsIt is a native species to Dogger Bank and is the focus of the plan. Large-scale reintroduction of these important bivalves will initiate the restoration of coral reef structures, which serve as important breeding and feeding grounds.
Henry Spears/naturepl.com
Stopping the scourge of bottom trawling
Dogger Shoal, named after the medieval Dutch fishing boat “doggers”, has long been a productive fishing ground. But centuries of intensive fishing — especially bottom trawling, which drags heavy nets across the seafloor — has turned once-rich marine ecosystems into barren deserts, wiping out fish and other wildlife such as sponges and corals. Bottom trawling also releases carbon stored on the seafloor, exacerbating the climate crisis.
Life above and below the water appears to be slowly recovering after the UK government decided to close some bottom trawling operations at Dogger Bank in 2022. Rewilding dog bank initiative is taking place now Dutch and German governments go to court Push for the same level of protection in their waters. A step forward was taken in November, when EU issues ban on bottom trawling In some areas of the Dutch and German parts of the sandbar.
Oscar Boss
Big Picture: From “Paper Park” to Effective Protection
Establishing marine protected areas can help reverse the decline of marine biodiversity, support the recovery of marine wildlife species and their habitats, and help us achieve the global goal of “protecting our oceans”. Protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. However, many marine protected areas in the North Sea and around the world are little more than “paper parks” that lack proper management – meaning their protection is little more than lines on a map.
Members of the Rewilding Dog Beach Alliance hope their efforts will serve as a blueprint for “flipping” the ocean paper park, inspiring the revitalization and protection of other marine protected areas in the North Sea and beyond.
Oscar Boss
Let's rewild together
Rewilding Europe warmly welcomes and encourages all European rewilding initiatives that focus on practical, results-oriented rewilding Apply for European Rewilding Network membership.
The Dogger Bank Rewilding Project is a partnership between the Doggerland Foundation, ATU (Atlantic University of Technology) in Ireland, blue ocean foundation In the UK, The Bund In Germany, WWF Denmark, ARK rewilding the Netherlands,as well as Beihai Embassy.
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