The Wadden Sea is well known for the large flocks of birds that visit the area during the annual migration to and from the Arctic. In recent years, there has been increased concern about these Arctic travellers due to the impact of changing climatic conditions in the Arctic.

More than 100 dead harbour porpoises have washed up on the beaches of the Dutch Wadden Sea islands of Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog in the last week, as reported by the University of Utrecht.

The 2020-2021 counts show a steady increase in the number of grey seals in the Wadden Sea.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 32^nd meeting of the Wadden Sea Board, postponed from November 2020, was held online on 4 March 2021.

UNESCO released the first global scientific assessment of its World Heritage marine sites’ blue carbon ecosystems, highlighting the critical environmental value of these habitats.

About 395,000 breeding pairs of coastal breeding birds occur in the transnational Wadden Sea, of which 75% inhabit the islands and Halligen.

In January 2020 the third Total Count of the East Atlantic Flyway was organized. The now published compilation of national reports gives a first overview of the bird numbers counted in 32 countries along the Flyway.