As is well known, the Baltic Sea National Park is off the table after the CDU decided at its state party conference in Schleswig-Holstein at the beginning of October united against the plans of Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt. The Green coalition partner was very displeased, but Goldschmidt is still sticking to the idea. Regardless of this, the so-called dovetailing workshop is taking place today, marking the end of the consultation process that has been running since spring. Representatives from the seven specialist workshops - including the water sports sector - are coming together in Neumünster to summarise their findings and points of view.
But what else should be discussed there if there is no political majority in favour of a Baltic Sea National Park anyway? Flensburg lawyer Hans Köster, board member for environmental issues at the Schleswig-Holstein Sailing Association, fears the establishment of exclusion zones through the back door: "In the invitation, we are asked to make concrete proposals for improved area protection in the potential area without a national park. In plain language, this means proposals for the expansion of existing protected areas," he said in a Interview with our sister magazine YACHT.
Which areas can be given up for zero utilisation?
As a reminder, the potential landscape refers to the areas that were originally intended to form the Baltic Sea National Park as proposed by the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Environment. Köster: "Now it is explicitly about 'area protection' within this area. Not about water protection. This can only be interpreted as meaning that we should say which areas we water sports enthusiasts are prepared to give up for zero utilisation." Such protected areas usually have a specific justification, such as the protection of breeding birds. However, the expertise on this must come from the ministry and not from the ranks of water sports enthusiasts.
"The fact that the focus is now back on naming and discussing concrete measures is very surprising after the clear announcements made to the ministry," says Köster. With the exception of the representatives of the nature conservation organisations, all the workshops had clearly spoken out against a Baltic Sea National Park. "All the ideas we have for better Baltic Sea protection without a national park play no role at all in the answer to this new question." Köster suspects that politicians are primarily focussing on increasing the size of the protected areas following a recent request from the EU on this topic.
More about the Baltic Sea National Park
- Ministry wants protection zones: Baltic Sea to become a national park, recreational boaters face restrictions
- Baltic Sea National Park: Loud protest at the rally in Fehmarnsund
- Baltic Sea National Park: Clear words at the water sports workshop
- Potential backdrop: The plans for a Baltic Sea National Park
