Protecting and preserving the natural environment - The first flights to count seals in the Wadden Sea are starting now.
To accurately measure the number of seals in the Wadden Sea, pilots, hunters, and researchers are preparing to launch the first aerial surveys this year using small aircraft. Simultaneously, two planes with trained observers will take off from the Lower Saxony coast in East Frisian Norddeich and Mariensiel at Wilhelmshaven.
The announcement was made by the Consumer Protection and Food Safety Authority in Oldenburg. By counting the seals, scientists and researchers can monitor their population growth and make crucial decisions based on the data collected.
The Wadden Sea is home to many bioindicators, including seals, making these surveys essential for understanding the health and condition of the unique ecosystem. Low tide provides a perfect opportunity for counting as the seals gather on sandbanks for resting or sunbathing.
This initiative is part of an international agreement for seal protection between Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Simultaneous surveys are also scheduled to take place in other participating countries.
Lower Saxony's seal population has remained stable at a high level, with 8,912 seals counted in the region between the Ems and the Elbe in 2023. The entire Wadden Sea had 22,621 seals in the previous summer, as reported by the trilateral Wadden Sea Secretariat. However, the number of seals reported in the past three years has been decreasing slightly.
To create a more effective survey system, hunters in Lower Saxony are now volunteering to assist scientists from the authority. In contrast to previous years, when three aircraft were used, the coastline has been divided into two countable sections. There will be a total of seven flights scheduled until mid-August.
