Kjeld Werther Reflects on the Ocean Protection Ambassador Experience

This blog post was authored by Kjeld Werther, a 2025 EarthEcho Ocean Protection Ambassador.

Banning bottom trawling in a country where fisheries are considered a core cultural element, during a time of political uncertainty, is no small challenge. Yet Dutch ocean activist and marine biology student Kjeld Werther succeeded in bringing the issue of bottom trawling to both Dutch politics and the wider public. Kjeld’s campaign started strong, earning coverage on national television. The real momentum, however, began at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where he connected with marine changemakers from around the world and joined forces with fellow European activists to campaign for a ban on bottom trawling.

“EarthEcho International provided me with the tools, support and confidence to stand for ocean conservation and take my first steps into marine diplomacy. Whether it was Nice or The Hague, with EarthEcho in mind, I could challenge myself to fight for a healthy ocean.” - Kjeld Werther

Back in the Netherlands, the government collapsed and new elections were scheduled for October. While this disrupted opportunities for direct political action, election periods are also crucial moments to shape the political agenda for the coming years. Alongside speaking with government officials at events such as the Dutch North Sea Days, Kjeld focused on reaching voters directly. To do so, he established a coalition of scientists, NGOs, and marine experts to create an Ocean Voting Guide, known in Dutch as the 'ZeeWijzer'. Using scientific methods, the guide assessed the ocean-friendliness of each political party. Through a clear and accessible infographic, voters could see how ocean-related issues, such as bottom trawling, deep-sea mining, and offshore wind energy, were reflected in party programs. The ZeeWijzer sparked a wide range of discussions with scientists, political parties, and the public, including during a radio interview. After the elections, the North Sea Foundation enabled Kjeld to join the North Sea Youth Council, a governmental body involved in deliberations on the implementation of the Dutch North Sea Agreement. In this role, he is able to question existing bottom-trawling regulations and propose stronger alternatives. 

With support from EarthEcho, Kjeld has successfully brought a youth perspective into both Dutch and international political arenas. He looks forward to continuing his fight for a healthy, bottom-trawling-free ocean in the year ahead.

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