Protecting and preserving the natural environment - Initial air excursions initiated for assessing the seal population in the Wadden Sea.
Pilots, hunters, and scientists kick off the year's first seal counting flights in the skies above the Wadden Sea. On a windy Tuesday morning, two propeller planes set off – one from East Frisian Norddeich and another from Wilhelmshaven's Mariensiel. These experienced observers on board can't afford to miss a spot!
Although the weather wasn't perfect, it was good enough for effective seal counting, a spokeswoman from Oldenburg's Consumer Protection and Food Safety Authority assured. It took about four hours, and they'd completed their task by lunchtime.
Pilots and scientists can determine the current seal population by counting these creatures efficiently. According to the agency, seals are a crucial bioindicator for the sensitive ecosystem of the Wadden Sea. They're most easily spotted during low tide when the animals pool together on sand bars, soaking up the sunshine.
The seal counts are part of an international agreement between Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Simultaneous counting flights are also happening over in the other countries. This cross-border cooperation helps keep an eye on seal populations.
In Lower Saxony this year, hunters and agency-affiliated scientists teamed up. Unlike last year when three aircraft were engaged in these counts, this year's stretch along the Lower Saxony coast is divided into two roughly equal areas for counting. Counting will continue with four more flights until mid-August.
The seal population in Lower Saxony has remained steady at high numbers during recent years, according to the agency. In 2023, a whopping 8,912 seals were located between the Ems and the Elbe. Across the entire Wadden Sea, there were 22,621 seals in the preceding summer, as reported by the trilateral Wadden Sea Secretariat. Notably, fewer seals were counted for the third straight year.
