- Future pact: North Sea towns concerned about coastal fishing
Out of concern for the potential disappearance of coastal fishing along the German North Sea coast, a broad coalition of representatives from municipalities, tourism, and business signed the "Future Pact Coastal Fisheries 2050" on Tuesday in Cuxhaven. They called for the sustainable preservation of coastal fishing in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein through political framework conditions, as the organizers announced. The background to this is the EU's plans to ban fishing with nets that touch the seabed in protected areas by 2030 at the latest.
Without fishing boats in the harbor, a tourist magnet is lost
The coastal fishery is not only important for the fishing industry, but for the entire tourism and local economy, said Hans-Peter Heikens, mayor of the municipality of Jemgum, to which the fishing village of Ditzum belongs. "If the boats are no longer there, a tourist magnet is lost," he said. This would not only affect accommodation providers and gastronomy. Also filling stations, craft businesses, or the local furniture store that equips holiday apartments would be affected.
Therefore, a coalition of representatives from municipalities, the tourism industry, and the chamber of industry and commerce in East Frisia had already presented the "Future Pact Coastal Fisheries 2050" in January. Among other things, it calls for a "secured fishing right" in the coastal sea, with which fishing areas and fishing possibilities, for example for shrimp fishermen, should be maintained. Furthermore, the establishment of a fisheries fund is proposed, from which, for example, measures for the diversification of the industry, the modernization of ships, marketing, and research could be financed. Money should be paid into this fund by all actors who use fishing areas.
Schleswig-Holstein joins demands
The concern about coastal fishing is not only driving the coastal towns of East Frisia, but all along the German North Sea coast, emphasized Heikens. Therefore, further actors from fishing, economy, tourism, and national parks in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein have joined the demands. The "North German Fisheries Conference" has been set up to expand and sign the "Future Pact" already drafted in East Frisia in January. Representatives of fisheries associations are also invited.
Proposals for the preservation of coastal fishing
According to the "Future Pact", possibilities lie, for example, in restricting fishing times based on scientific findings. Furthermore, alternative fishing techniques and species, as well as the possibilities of aquaculture, should be examined. An alternative could, for example, be the cultivation of mussels in offshore wind farms, said Heikens.
The mayor emphasized that it is beyond question that the fisheries must change for better marine protection and in view of climate change. "But one must also give fisheries room," he said. "If the EU enforces the ban on bottom-trawling, then there is no room left."
The broad coalition, in its efforts to preserve coastal fishing, has proposed the establishment of a fisheries fund, which would be funded by all actors using fishing areas. This fund would support measures such as diversification, ship modernization, marketing, and research.
In added support, Schleswig-Holstein has joined the demands for the sustainable preservation of coastal fishing, following the concerns expressed by coastal towns along the German North Sea coast.
