seawatch

Sea-Watch, usually written Sea-Watch or Sea-Watch International, is a German non-profit organization focused on search and rescue at sea and the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees. Founded in the mid-2010s, it operates primarily in the central Mediterranean, coordinating volunteers, rescuers, and ships to locate and assist people in distress at sea and to document humanitarian conditions encountered during crossings.

The organization conducts rescue missions using volunteer crews on ships that operate in international waters around North Africa and Southern Europe. In addition to direct lifesaving operations, Sea-Watch engages in advocacy to improve access to asylum, to promote safe and legal pathways for migration, and to raise awareness of the human costs of maritime crossings. It collaborates with other non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and media partners to disseminate information about search and rescue activities and refugee rights.

Governance and funding are through Sea-Watch International, registered as a nonprofit association in Germany. The organization relies on donations, grants, and public campaigns to support its missions, training, and documentation efforts. It emphasizes transparency in reporting missions, numbers of rescues, and the fate of rescued individuals.

Sea-Watch's activities have been part of broader debates over migration policy in Europe. Supporters credit the group with saving lives and drawing attention to humanitarian needs, while critics have questioned the operational and legal implications of maritime rescue and disembarkation policies. The organization continues to advocate for humane, lawful, and principled approaches to migration.