Natura 2000 areas in German waters could be set to be closed to a variety of fishing activities as the German government seeks to implement restrictions over an area that comprises approximately 31% of the German EEZ, with implications for German and Danish fishermen, as well as those of other neighbouring nations.
‘Natura 2000 is a really strange thing, commented Peter Breckling of German fishermen’s federation Deutscher Fischerei Verband.
‘We have two processes running at the same time. Under national law the environment minister sets regulations for all German Natura 2000 areas in the North Sea and the Baltic. There is a planned total ban of all recreational fisheries. Commercial fisheries are excepted because these come under a separate process as a delegated act by the EU Commission, and the national environment minister has no competence for this.’
‘But there was an internal agreement that the agricultural and environment ministers make a common proposal to the Scheveningen group. The group will communicate a common agreed proposal to the EU Commission which will decide a regulation as a delegated act,’ Peter Breckling added.
‘The importance of these potential closed areas has to be made clear to the Danish fishermen’s association. I hope they will explain it to their government in clear terms that Denmark has to oppose the German proposal very strongly,‘ he said, commenting that if the closures are implemented, Deutscher Fischerei Verband will try to take its case to the European court.
Under the proposals, the Outer Sylt Reef, Borkum Riffgrund and the Dogger Bank are already identified as Natura 2000 SCIs under the Habitats Directive and the Eastern German Bight is categorised as a European bird sanctuary under the Birds Directive.
The German government is seeking a year-round exclusion of mobile gears from the Sylt Outer Reef and the Eastern German Bight, with an exemption for shrimpers in the eastern part of the Sylt Outer Reef, plus a exclusion of all fishing on 25% of the Armun Bank.
A year-round exclusion is sought for mobile gear on the Borkum Riffgrund and on the Dogger Bank.
The application includes a ban on gill nets in the northern and southern parts of the Sylt Outer Reef and the Eastern German Bight areas, plus seasonal exclusions on the western part of the Sylt Outer Reef for part of the year. In addition, on-board cameras are to be a condition of operation.
