„The reefs off Borkum Island are topical due to the anticipated gas extraction. The exhibition answers questions and helps to shape public opinion,“ says IDOS researcher, Dr Irit Ittner, who is researching conflicts over the use of the ,Borkum Riffgrund’ and was involved in the exhibition.
©IDOS
Since Saturday, 27 July 2024, visitors to the North Sea Aquarium in Borkum are able to discover the new exhibition “Die Riffe vor Borkum. Gefährliche Untiefen und gefährdete Lebensräume” (The reefs off Borkum. Dangerous shores and endangered habitats). Dr Irit Ittner and the aquarium’s director, Claudia Thorenmeier, curated the exhibition. They co-designed it with colleagues from the Alfred- Wegener-Institute in Bremerhaven, the Borkum Heritage Association as well as the Environmental Action Germany.
©IDOS
The exhibition will run for at least a year and is expected to attract around 30,000 visitors. The exhibition will also present informational films about natural gas production and the reefs off Borkum. These have been provided by the NGO Greenpeace.
After the opening and keynote speeches, participants carried a red banner – Borkum´s red line against the anticipated gas extraction off the North Sea island – to the Kulturinsel. There, Borkum residents, environmental activists and holiday guests discussed marine protection, impacts of marine gas extraction and the on-going litigations by Borkum Municipality and its partners. This event was organised and moderated by Irit Ittner, too, who is part of the SustainMare mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). IDOS is a strategic partner of the DAM.
