On April 16, the fourth meeting of experts in the field of Thalasso therapy took place. Since the first online meeting in spring 2024, the number of participating countries and specialists has continued to grow steadily. We now count 28 participants from 15 different countries. The workshop was organised by Ms. Marlies Sobczak, ESPA Board member in cooperation with Wilhelm Loth, Kurdirektion Staatsbad Norderney.
This time, five speakers presented their interesting research, trends, and activities. From the beginning, the support of Norderney has proven invaluable to the Thalasso working group, as has the involvement of Dr. Marie Perez, President of the French Thalasso Association, who will now actively participate in our group. We warmly welcome her!
University of Varna (Bulgaria)
Dr. Evgeniya Vladeva, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Todorka Kostadinova, outlined the current and future development of Thalasso therapy in Bulgaria. Thanks partly to pioneers such as Prof. Dr. Stamat Stamatov—considered the founder of medical tourism—Bulgaria is now a key player in Thalasso innovation.
With government support, Bulgaria is working to develop certification guidelines for spas, conduct regular inspections, integrate Thalasso with hospital medical treatments, and coordinate with health insurance companies. Based on a strong scientific foundation, the Medical University of Varna has offered Europe’s first interdisciplinary Master’s program in Rehabilitation, Thalassotherapy, Wellness and Spa since 2018.
“There is a great need for highly qualified professionals, and Varna attracts students from all over the world,” said Dr. Vladeva. “In the future, our focus will be on emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East.”
oceanBASIS (Germany)
Dr. Inez Linke, biologist and founder of oceanBASIS, illustrated how seawater, sea mud, seaweed, and marine animals provide valuable marine resources. Her research focuses on the health benefits of active marine ingredients—especially algae—in food, cosmetics, biotechnology, and medicine. “The minerals in seawater are very similar to those in human blood. We come from the sea. One kilo of algae can contain 10,000 liters of seawater. There are 13,000 species of algae but only about 50 to 100 are used by us. There are more than 4,000 species of red algae that contain many antioxidants. And more than 8,000 species of the more common green algae. The sugars in the brown algae in particular have an anti-inflammatory effect thanks to polyphenols and activate the immune system. They reduce the risk of cancer, offer protection against UV-rays and hydrate the skin. The collagen that can be extracted from the ocean can be used in knee reconstructions. There is an underwater rainforest below sea level and we need to improve the water quality.
The minerals in seawater are very similar to those in human blood. There are 13,000 species of algae but only about 50 to 100 are used by us.. There is an underwater rainforest below sea level and we need to improve the water quality.
oceanBASIS runs a small algae farm in Kiel, Germany, and more than 400 underwater fields are already being harvested in Scandinavia.
Institute Fresenius (Germany)
Nicola Ackermann explained the effects of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in seawater and their consequences for the production of consumer beverages. All water—ranging from drinking water to soft drinks—contains around 8,600 substances that do not naturally occur in the environment. These “forever chemicals” do not decompose and accumulate over time.
PFAS are found in pesticides, food industry dyes, pens, non-stick pans, fire-fighting foam, and water-repellent clothing. Today, PFAS can be detected in everyone’s blood and even in breast milk. These substances are carcinogenic and may cause liver damage. While most substances are excreted within a few days, PFAS can remain in the body for 2–3 years.
According to EFSA guidelines, a maximum of 4.4 ng/kg body weight is considered acceptable. However, in industrial areas and near airports, levels as high as 1,000–4,230 ng/l have been recorded. Although oceans show less contamination, PFAS levels decrease as salinity increases.
Blue Growth Lab (Belgium)
Julia Kinet, gave a presentation on behalf of the Blue Growth Research Lab (BGRL) at the University of Ghent, led by Prof. dr. ir. Jana Asselman and Prof. dr. Colin Janssen. The lab combines various disciplines such as biology, chemistry, social sciences, psychology, and medicine, to study how people interact with the ocean and how this affects both the sea and our health. In her research, she examines the potential benefits of coastal walking for older adults’ health in Belgium. To this date, most research in this field focuses on questionnaire data, therefore, quantitative data is scarce. Moreover, coastal environments remain under-researched compared to green settings (such as forests), even though 50% of the global population lives within 100 km of a coastline. In Belgium, one in three coastal residents is over 65 years old, offering a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of coastal exposure on this demographic. The research team uses wearable devices and biological markers to measure how a coastal walk affects stress and cognitive performance in older adults.”
Training Thalasso Therapists – Norderney (Germany)
Dr. Friedhart Raschke presented the Thalasso educational program offered on the island of Norderney. Since 2018, this seaside resort has hosted this training annually—this February marked the 15th session.
Over three weekends (Friday to Sunday), participants can earn certification recognized by the Medical Academy Europe. The training focuses on sports, relaxation, and the respiratory system and is used in treating sleep disorders, fatigue, burnout, and immune conditions. In recent years, modules on art, mindfulness, and yoga have also been included. Each session can accommodate 40 to 50 participants, and the cost is €480 (incl. VAT).
Market Trends
Claudia Wagner, Manager at Fit Reisen, gave a brief preview of her upcoming presentation at the next Thalasso workshop. She observes strong market growth: 68% increase in wellness tourism, 85% repeat bookings, and a 12.5% increase in average length of stay.
In her talk, “Thalasso Health Cure with Natural Remedies from the Sea – A Holistic Approach to Prevention, Wellness, and Beauty,” she will explore how companies can meet rising demand.
Coming Soon
We also look forward to welcoming:
– Dr. Marcus Wengel, CEO of Biener GmbH:
“Minerals in Thalasso – The Ocean’s Influence on Health”
In this presentation, we will explore various ocean-derived minerals and their wide-ranging health effects.
www.biener-aquaristik.de
We look forward to meeting again this autumn!
Marlies Sobczak-Boumans
ESPA Board Member