- Environmentalists call for a nature reserve for seal sandbank
The excursions of the MS "Seebär" to the sandbank Lieps in the Bay of Wismar are highly sought after during the peak season. However, the hope of observing dozens of harbor seals basking on the narrow sandstrip in the Baltic Sea is often disappointed, especially on beautiful days.
"Many stand-up paddle boarders, inflatable boat, and sports boat drivers then go out and get too close to the seal sandbank, sometimes even at high speed," says Ulrike Cwielag from the environmental organization BUND. This disturbs the animals significantly and they dive away. They are particularly dependent on rest periods, especially young ones. They could drown from exhaustion while swimming if they cannot recover sufficiently on land.
Quiet only on bad weather days
The connection to tourism is clear, says Cwielag. "On rainy days, it's quiet around Lieps and immediately the harbor seals are there." As early as 2005, water sports enthusiasts in the region, coastal communities, angling clubs, tourism, and nature conservation organizations signed a voluntary agreement to protect particularly sensitive areas of the Bay of Wismar.
The sandbank Lieps and its surroundings are mentioned as a very sensitive area, which should be avoided from May to mid-September. Maps with behavioral recommendations for tourists are displayed on the beach, and boat and paddleboard rental companies should inform their customers about them.
BUND: Voluntary agreement has failed
The voluntary agreement was concluded to avoid legally binding regulations for nature conservation. However, it seems not to be working. Therefore, BUND demands that the state government declare the sandbank Lieps a nature reserve. "Anyone who then approaches too closely or even gets out there violates a ban and this can be punished with a fine," says Cwielag.
The "Seebär" excursions, which take place up to three times a day, are supported by BUND. The captain only approaches the sandbank to within 300 meters and reduces the engine speed. Massive heads of harbor seals emerge from the water a few dozen meters away from the ship. On that day, the sandbank is populated by hundreds of cormorants, with just one harbor seal basking in the sun. Up to 100 animals can rest there at a time, says Cwielag.
Harbor seals in the Baltic Sea were almost extinct in the 20th century. In the 1980s, the first protective measures were taken. Since then, the population has grown. According to WWF, there are now around 42,000 harbor seals in the Baltic Sea. However, this is still less than half of the original population. Scientists estimate that there were once about 100,000 animals. The sandbank Lieps is considered one of the most important retreat sites for harbor seals in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Other fish often inhabit the surrounding waters of the seal sandbank, providing a diverse marine ecosystem. Despite the voluntary agreement, some tourists continue to disturb the harbor seals by getting too close to their other fish companions.