Protected areas in the Baltic Sea: Fishermen's Association: Günther must speak with authority

The Schleswig-Holstein State Fisheries Association has demanded that Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) take decisive action in favour of fishing in the north. Many compromises have already been made, particularly in matters relating to the protection of the Baltic Sea, but the fishermen must be given "room to breathe", said the association's chairman Lorenz Marckwardt to the German Press Agency.

"The Prime Minister has the authority to bang his hand on the table and demand changes to the protected areas," he stressed. Günther repeatedly declared his support for fishing in the state, but this was not followed by any consequences. Instead, he was hiding behind Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt (Greens), criticized Marckwardt.

The black-green state government presented its action plan for protecting the Baltic Sea in March 2024. This would put 12.5 percent of Schleswig-Holstein's Baltic Sea under strict protection - fishing would be prohibited there. In addition, three nature reserves are to be set up west of the island of Fehmarn, in the southern Hohwacht Bay and between the mouth of the Schlei and Gelting.

The fishing association sees this as a danger. Many small-scale fishermen would then either have to relocate or give up their profession. "I am very concerned that people will no longer want fishermen in the country," said Marckwardt.

In December last year, the association put forward proposals for alternative protected areas. According to the information, these meet the state's protection requirements, but somewhat mitigate the impact on fishing operations. In some cases, these areas also overlap with those in the state government's action plan.

The FDP parliamentary group also called for an adjustment of the Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan so that the impact on coastal fishing is somewhat minimized and traditional fishing areas are preserved. To this end, the fishing association's proposed changes should be examined.

However, according to the Kieler Nachrichten newspaper, a spokeswoman for the State Chancellery had already clarified weeks ago: "The negotiations on the Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan were concluded last year."

Environment Minister Goldschmidt sees fishing-free zones and marine nature reserves as investments in the future. In his opinion, the problems facing fishermen today are due to inadequate protection in the past: "The reason why Baltic Sea fishermen are doing so badly economically is that there is hardly any fish left in the Baltic Sea due to environmental problems and years of overfishing."

© dpa-infocom, dpa:250227-930-388297/1