The North Sea is considered one of the most productive seas in the world and is home to millions of small creatures in every liter of water.
Although it is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, the North Sea is a special natural region. Our island lies in the middle of this special natural area worthy of protection, the Wadden Sea National Park and World Heritage Site.
Perfect living conditions for tiny bacteria, hundreds of species of algae and fish through to larger marine mammals. For the majority of Borkum guests, the protection of the Wadden Sea as a national park plays an important role in their travel decision.
This is shown by the results of a guest survey conducted by the Wadden Sea National Park in 2017. Against this background, Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH has been a partner of the national park for four years. The diverse underwater world can be experienced in the North Sea aquarium.

Since the 1970s, people have been able to explore the colorful underwater world around Borkum in the aquarium and get to know the North Sea's wildlife better. In 2015, the aquarium was completely renovated with the support of the EU and the state of Lower Saxony and integrated into the business area of ​​Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH.
Since then, the aquarium and its employees Maria and Ihno Oetjen have made a name for themselves. In addition to being home to and exhibiting plants, fish and animals from the North Sea, it has also recently made a name for itself as a breeding and rearing station for various species.

Cat sharks, sea dahlias, whelks and jellyfish seem to feel particularly comfortable in the aquarium and have been bred for several years. The breeding of whelks is going so well that some specimens have already been donated to the OZEANEUM in Stralsund. 250 of them hatched from a clutch of eggs found at the Borkum harbor.
This species is actually considered almost extinct around the island. Most recently, the North Sea Aquarium welcomed 150.000 visitors since it reopened.

Although the North Sea Aquarium is known for only presenting animals from the North Sea, an exception was made last August. Since then, two sturgeons from the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries have been on loan on site. The crux of the matter was to get the freshwater fish used to the salt water of the North Sea; the tanks in the North Sea aquarium are filled with seawater.
A complex undertaking that could only be accomplished with a lot of work and passion. Göran Sell, Managing Director of the NBG: “It can be said that it is a great honor that the Leibniz Institute has entrusted us with two of these almost extinct animals. But with the Oetjen family they are in the best hands and are cared for above and beyond.”

This dedication to the marine world and especially with regard to breeding is also reflected in the number of guests. Since it reopened in 2015, around 125.000 visitors have come to the North Sea Aquarium and marveled at the underwater world with sea dahlias, weevers and sea bass. In addition to the aquarium in Wilhelmshaven, Borkum is the only one in the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. The former floating lighthouse, the lightship “Borkumriff”, is now a floating national park house and is the only one of its kind.
And just as large information boards in the Borkum Aquarium show the close cooperation with the national park for its underwater world, guests can find out everything they need to know about bird migration in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site in a large exhibition on the lightship. Especially with regard to the goals of the “Borkum 2030” strategy, the preservation of our natural area, which is particularly worthy of protection, is an important concern. The North Sea Aquarium with the Oetjen family and the “Borkumriff” make an important contribution to this with their education.