In 1906 the Wilhelmshaven Marine Construction Authority erected groynes and embankments on the Olde Oog and dams to prevent the channel of the River Jade from silting up.

By building long connecting groynes the sand was held back and formed a "fore-dune" which quickly established itself as a breeding ground for seabirds.

After the Second World War, the British occupation forces tried to render Wilhelmshaven unusable as a naval base by letting the Jade estuary silt up completely.

In addition to the radar tower built in 1976, a larger accommodation facility was erected in the form of pile dwellings for the WSA's staff.

At the end of the groyne A in the north there is still a small flak tower made of concrete, which was built during the Second World War and served as a lighthouse until 1998 .

In 1998, the Wilhelmshaven Water and Shipping Authority (WSA) gave up its permanent presence on the island for reasons of cost and only deploys staff as needed.

Since the automation of the beacon, however, only a bird warden from the Mellumrat resides on Minsener Oog during the summer (breeding season), who shares the living quarters of the water and shipping authority.