Discursive Use of Scientific Information: Policy Narratives on Sea-Dumped Munitions in the German Seas

Similar to other 'invisible' marine pollution issues such as microplastics or chemical pollution, underwater munitions present a widespread and inadequately addressed problem. In the German Baltic and North Sea, 1.6 million tons of dumped munitions represent a hazardous legacy from World Wars I and II. Initially seen as a solution for demilitarizing Germany, it was not until 2021 that submerged munitions were widely acknowledged as an environmental issue requiring systematic clearance. The new German government has recognized the threat and allocated significant funds for clearance efforts. This article explores the effective communication of the need for environmental action by examining how policy actors constructed and communicated narratives regarding sea-dumped munitions in Germany from 2000 to 2023, utilizing the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF). Engaging NPF literature on the role of 'evidence', particular attention is given to the affective usage of scientific information as well as of uncertainty regarding scientific information. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of approximately 250 newspaper articles and supported by semi-structured interviews, the study aims to confirm the hypothesis that the dominant narrative has evolved from viewing the risk of submerged munitions as too uncertain and clearance too complex and costly to deal with, to understanding them as unpredictable threats to consumer safety and the environment that need to be addressed through systematic clearance.