The North Sea Foundation was founded in 1978 (under the name 'Workgroup North Sea') by various large Dutch environmental organizations. There was a need for an organization to coordinate and mobilize the knowledge and expertise in the field of the marine environment. The North Sea Foundation functions as a network organization open for experts in this field. It strives for a complete approach to the problems concerning the North Sea. One of the goals of the foundation is to promote meaningful dialogue over a sustainable use of the North Sea, between environmental organizations and the users of the North Sea (such as the fisheries, offshore, shipping and tourism).
