Ministry wants protection zones: Baltic Sea to become a national park, recreational boaters face restrictions
Jan Zier
· 15.12.2022
Tobias Goldschmidt, Minister of the Environment in Schleswig-Holstein, has presented initial plans for a "Baltic Sea National Park". It is intended to connect the various nature and bird sanctuaries on the Baltic Sea and at the same time "deepen their protection", as the Green politician says - so that the Baltic Sea "will be better again in the future". This could result in massive restrictions for water sports. In total, an area of up to 140,000 hectares along the coast is at stake. However, it is still unclear which areas will actually become part of the national park. However, Goldschmidt is calling for "large protected areas". He stated: "If it becomes too small-scale, a national park makes little sense."
Goldschmidt's announcement is causing quite a stir on the Baltic coast. An intensive and open-ended consultation process with the stakeholders concerned is now to take place in spring," explains a ministry spokesperson. This will also include a discussion on which regulations should apply to water sports on the Baltic Sea in future. Until then, the ministry will not be answering any questions for the time being: they do not want to "pre-empt" the debates.
National park means 50% area without utilisation
It is clear that there should be so-called zero utilisation zones in which shipping and fishing would be taboo. In a national park, at least 50 per cent of the area would have to be left to nature - similar to the Wadden Sea National Park, which is around 300,000 hectares larger than the potential on the Baltic Sea. However, there are far fewer recreational boaters and sailors on the North Sea than on the Baltic Sea. The ministry, on the other hand, hopes that the new national park will "boost the attractiveness" of the Baltic Sea coast and provide "enormous opportunities for tourism and the economy", as Goldschmidt told the Schleswig-Holstein newspaper publisher.
The Jasmund National Park in the north-east of the island of Rügen, which belongs to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, already exists today. It covers around 3,000 hectares, making it Germany's smallest national park. It consists of 20 per cent water areas and offers harbour porpoises and grey seals a retreat. Sailing and recreational boating is prohibited here in a 500 metre wide shore zone.
Similar to the Wadden Sea National Park or the Western Pomerania Bodden Waters National Park, "any overnight stays on yachts would no longer be possible", fears Jens Giermann from the Schleswig-Holstein State Sailing Association. She strictly rejects Goldschmidt's plan: "That would be unacceptable from a sporting perspective. Even Kiel Week could no longer take place in its current form."
Water sports industry fears restrictions
Harbour operators are also concerned: "It is important for the water sports industry and tourism that the Schlei, for example, can be navigated at the same intensity as before," says Hauke Steckmest, whose marina and Scalar shipyard are located on the Schlei. The greater Kappeln area has around 10,000 inhabitants, but just under 2,000 berths for yachts from Arnis to Maasholm. Water sports are a major economic factor here. It is feared that if the national park is established, some pleasure boaters could move to nearby Denmark. There are fewer restrictions there.
