Marine Nature Conservation Fund

The Marine Conservation Fund of the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) will provide approximately ten million euros annually from 2025 onwards to preserve the North and Baltic Seas as unique habitats. Projects that protect endangered marine species such as sturgeon, salmon, eel, shark, or ray, promote the restoration of reefs and seagrass meadows, and develop environmentally compatible technologies for the construction, operation, and decommissioning of offshore wind energy installations will be supported. The funds originate from compensation payments under the Offshore Wind Energy Act and are awarded within the separate funding area of coastal and marine environmental protection. The focus is also on innovative monitoring methods, participatory concepts, and communication strategies that effectively support marine conservation.

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, companies, public and educational institutions that implement coastal and marine conservation projects in Germany while adhering to the DBU funding guidelines. Applications can be submitted continuously from January 1, 2025, as fixed deadlines have been eliminated. Eligible are projects in the areas of species protection, habitat restoration, and climate-resilient offshore technologies. In addition to project funding, the fund opens synergies with the DBU’s Green Start-up Program, the marine conservation doctoral scholarship, and fellowships for university graduates from Central and Eastern Europe. Project sponsors receive comprehensive support during the application process and benefit from a network of experts that promotes the exchange of best practices and research findings.