Sea-Watch e.V. is an NGO that has been conducting civil search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean since 2015. With over 45,000 rescued people, the organization advocates for human rights, safe entry routes, and political changes. Dedicated staff and volunteers work daily for a humane refugee policy.
Sea-Watch e.V. is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has been dedicated to the civil sea rescue of people fleeing in the Mediterranean since its founding in May 2015. Founded by Harald Höppner and a group of committed volunteers, Sea-Watch responds to the humanitarian crisis at the external borders of the European Union.
The main mission of Sea-Watch is to rescue people in distress at sea and thereby prevent the thousands of deaths of refugees at the EU's external borders. The organization advocates for safe and legal entry routes into the EU and calls for institutionalized, international sea rescue with a clear mandate. Sea-Watch is politically and religiously independent and is funded solely by donations[2][4].
Sea-Watch pursues several sustainability goals:
Sea-Watch has a structured organization with various departments, including ship management, political advocacy, media, and legal teams. Funding is secured by an 11-member fundraising team and a finance department, supported by over 21,000 supporting members and major funding partners such as the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie and the Evangelical Church in Germany[3].
With a team of 132 permanent employees and over 750 volunteer supporters, Sea-Watch works daily to uphold human rights at the EU's external borders and remains an important actor in civil sea rescue in the Mediterranean.
