M.E.E.R. e.V.

M.E.E.R. e.V. is a German non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) based in Berlin that works for the protection of cetaceans — whales and dolphins — and their marine habitat. Its name is an acronym formed from the initial letters of Mammals (Säugetiere), Encounters (Begegnungen), Education (Bildung) and Research (Erforschung), the four pillars of its work. The association was founded in Berlin in 1998, following the launch in 1997 of the M.E.E.R. La Gomera project, which it now carries as its main operational programme. Its chairman and scientific director is Fabian Ritter. The association's statutory purpose is the promotion of environmental protection, science and education, in particular the protection of cetaceans and their natural habitat and the research and shaping of peaceful encounters between humans and cetaceans. In practice M.E.E.R. runs applied research off La Gomera in the Canary Islands — a stretch of water that hosts more than 20 species of dolphins and whales — using sighting data, behavioural observation, photo-identification, land-based observation and interdisciplinary studies. Alongside research it operates a research and information centre on La Gomera, runs public outreach for tourists and local residents, gives lectures, events and seminars, offers behavioural-biology internship courses, and maintains a permanent exhibition on the island. M.E.E.R. is networked with national and international organisations and is a member of globally oriented whale campaigns. At times it provided a member of the German delegation to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Its patron is the children's songwriter Fredrik Vahle. The association has cooperated with a range of universities and colleges, including Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Wien, Bangor University (UK), Universidad de La Laguna (ES), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fachhochschule Lübeck and Universität Trier, and works with Fachhochschule Eberswalde in its Sustainable Tourism degree programme. It conducts international internship courses for students and has supervised dissertations at German and international universities. In 2008 the association presented a trilingual exhibition entitled "Delfine und Wale vor La Gomera" (Dolphins and Whales off La Gomera). It received the International Environment Prize Tourism and Environment in 2001, and its film "Das MEER vor La Gomera" reached the semi-finals at the Jack Ward Film Awards in the USA in 2005. Fabian Ritter has also published books on whale watching and whale research, including "Wale beobachten" (2004), "Wale erforschen" (2007) and "Die Insel der Delfine" (2018). The association continues to run campaigns and outreach, including work around World Ocean Day together with Oceano Whale Watching La Gomera, and participates in the international "Rights of Nature" movement.

M.E.E.R. e.V. traces its origins to 1997, when the M.E.E.R. La Gomera project was launched, among others by Fabian Ritter. The association itself, M.E.E.R. e.V., was founded in Berlin in 1998 and became the supporting body of that project, maintaining the associated research and information centre on La Gomera. The name of the association is formed from the initial letters of Mammals (Säugetiere), Encounters (Begegnungen), Education (Bildung) and Research (Erforschung). Its statutory purpose is the promotion of environmental protection, science and education, in particular the protection of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and their natural habitat, as well as the research and shaping of peaceful encounters between humans and cetaceans. In Germany the association carries out public outreach work and presents its research results at international conferences. It is networked with national and international organisations and is a member of globally oriented whale campaigns. At times it provided a member of the German delegation to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Its patron is the children's songwriter Fredrik Vahle. The association has cooperated with various universities and colleges, including Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Wien, Bangor University (UK), Universidad de La Laguna (ES), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Fachhochschule Lübeck and Universität Trier. With Fachhochschule Eberswalde it maintained cooperation in the Sustainable Tourism degree programme (as of 2010). The association runs international internship courses for students and has supervised dissertations at various German and international universities. In 2008 the association presented a trilingual exhibition entitled "Delfine und Wale vor La Gomera" (Dolphins and Whales off La Gomera). It received the International Environment Prize Tourism and Environment in 2001, and its film "Das MEER vor La Gomera" reached the semi-finals at the Jack Ward Film Awards in the USA in 2005. Fabian Ritter, the association's chairman and scientific director, has published books including "Wale beobachten: Ein Leitfaden zum sanften Whale Watching in Europa und Übersee" (Conrad Stein Verlag, 2004), "Wale erforschen" (Conrad Stein Verlag, 2007) and "Die Insel der Delfine: Begegnungen auf dem Meer vor La Gomera" (Clarity Verlag, 2018). More recently the association has continued its outreach and campaigning, including joint activities with Oceano Whale Watching La Gomera around World Ocean Day in June 2026, and participation in the international 'Rights of Nature' movement, whose representatives met in Berlin in September 2026.

• 2026

  Joint activities with Oceano Whale Watching La Gomera around World Ocean Day in June; participation in the 'Rights of Nature' movement meeting in Berlin in September.

• 2018

  Fabian Ritter published "Die Insel der Delfine: Begegnungen auf dem Meer vor La Gomera" (Clarity Verlag).

• 2010

  Cooperation with Fachhochschule Eberswalde in the Sustainable Tourism degree programme (as of 2010).

• 2008

  Presented the trilingual exhibition "Delfine und Wale vor La Gomera".

• 2007

  Fabian Ritter published "Wale erforschen" (Conrad Stein Verlag).

• 2005

  The film "Das MEER vor La Gomera" reached the semi-finals at the Jack Ward Film Awards in the USA.

• 2004

  Fabian Ritter published "Wale beobachten: Ein Leitfaden zum sanften Whale Watching in Europa und Übersee" (Conrad Stein Verlag).

• 2001

  Received the International Environment Prize Tourism and Environment.

• 1998

  M.E.E.R. e.V. founded in Berlin as the supporting association of the La Gomera project.

• 1997

  M.E.E.R. La Gomera project launched, among others by Fabian Ritter.

Non-profit conservation and research association focused on cetaceans and sustainable, peaceful human–cetacean encounters, operating primarily off La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

• M.E.E.R. La Gomera cetacean research project

  Applied research on cetaceans off La Gomera using sighting data, behavioural observation, photo-identification, land-based observation and interdisciplinary studies.

• Research and information centre on La Gomera

  Centre maintained by the association on La Gomera.

• Trilingual exhibition "Delfine und Wale vor La Gomera"

  Exhibition presented in 2008.

• International internship courses for students

  Behavioural-biology internship courses and supervision of dissertations.

• Books by Fabian Ritter

  "Wale beobachten" (2004), "Wale erforschen" (2007), "Die Insel der Delfine" (2018).

• World Ocean Day activities
• Rights of Nature movement

1. 1Startseite - MEER eVm-e-e-r.de
2. 2M.E.E.R. e.V. - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3M.E.E.R. - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org