130 Marine Pollution Incidents Found During Surveillance Flights - Aerial Patrols Expose Over 100 Marine Pollution Cases in 2025

Aerial monitoring of the North and Baltic Seas has tracked marine pollution for four decades. In 2025, surveillance flights detected over 100 cases of contamination, including oil spills and unknown substances. The effort relies on specialised aircraft to identify pollution and, where possible, trace those responsible.

Two Dornier Do 228 sensor planes carried out the monitoring, flying up to four missions daily. They recorded 109 incidents in the North Sea and 21 in the Baltic Sea. Of these, 51 occurred in German waters, while the rest were found in the maritime zones of the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

Most oil spills in German waters involved small amounts, making cleanup difficult. On average, pollution was spotted every eleven to twelve flight hours—a rate unchanged from the previous year. The overall decline in marine pollution since monitoring began is partly credited to the deterrent effect of regular surveillance.

In 2025, newer and more sensitive sensors contributed to a slight increase in detected cases. Authorities identified suspected perpetrators in 48 instances, achieving a clearance rate of around 37%. However, no official figures confirm how many of these suspects faced charges or penalties.

The 2025 findings highlight ongoing challenges in combating marine pollution, despite improved detection methods. While surveillance has reduced illegal discharges over time, small-scale spills remain common. The data underscores the need for continued monitoring and enforcement in the region.