Grey seals - Seals need peace and quiet - appeal to beach vacationers
Environmental advocates are calling on beachgoers at the Baltic Sea to avoid disturbing Harbor Seals at their resting spots. These seals can be found primarily in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, specifically in the Wismarbucht and the Greifswalder Bodden, according to the Federal Association for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND).
"However, individual Harbor Seals or even Seals have been spotted at almost all other beaches along our Baltic Sea coast," the BUND stated. The beach and shallow sandbanks are part of the natural habitat for seals.
WWF: 42,000 Harbor Seals in the Baltic Sea
Harbor Seals in the Baltic Sea were almost extinct in the 20th century. Protection measures were first implemented in the 1980s, and since then, their population has been growing. According to WWF, there are currently approximately 42,000 Harbor Seals in the Baltic Sea. This is still less than half of the original population, with scientists estimating there were once around 100,000 animals.
One of the most important resting areas for Harbor Seals in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, according to the BUND, is the Sandbank Lieps in the Wismarbucht. This sandbank is particularly significant for young seals because they need to rest more frequently than adults.
Adult Harbor Seals reportedly spend around 80 percent of their lives in the water but also rest on the beach.
Wide berth around Harbor Seal resting areas
Water sports clubs and anglers have reportedly agreed with the BUND to avoid the Sandbank Lieps. Tourists may not be aware of this, and warnings at harbors and beaches may not be sufficient.
In the Wismarbucht during the summer, it often happens that the Sandbank Lieps is visited by small boats and paddlers who approach the sandbank too closely and disturb the seals, causing them to enter the water in alarm.
The BUND recommended that water sports enthusiasts keep a wide berth around Harbor Seal resting areas. Approaching seals in open water should be done at low speeds. Intentional approach to seals should never be done.
- Environmentalists in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania urge tourists to respect Harbor Seals' resting spots, particularly in the Wismarbucht and the Greifswalder Bodden.
- The Greifswalder Bodden and Wismarbucht are crucial habitats for Harbor Seals in Germany, as highlighted by the BUND and WWF.
- During the 1980s, environmental efforts led to the protection of Harbor Seals in the Baltic Sea, preventing their extinction and allowing their population to increase.
- The Sandbank Lieps in the Wismarbucht is a significant resting area for young Harbor Seals, making it essential for visitors to maintain a distance and avoid disturbing them.
- Grey seals, also known as Harbor Seals, are currently thriving in the Baltic Sea, with an estimated 42,000 individuals, according to the WWF.
- In an effort to promote responsible tourism, beachgoers and water sports enthusiasts should give a wide berth to Harbor Seals and avoid approaching them in their resting places.
