Steve
Thursday 9th January 2003, 13:50
THE PROTECTION OF porpoises AND divers in the north sea
Although the Harbour Porpoise protection area offshore from the islands of Sylt and Amrum on the German North Sea Coast has been officially in force since the end of 1999 it is not marked on any nautical charts. As a result motorboats still race with speeds up to 70 kph through the breeding grounds and nursery of the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena. Fixed fishing nets under 2 metres height are still permitted and a ban on higher nets has not yet been approved by the EU and is therefore only binding for German fishermen. The immediately neighbouring fishermen of Denmark and Holland (as well as the rest of the EU) are not affected. In addition, the latest scientific studies tend to the recommendation that the protection area should be further extended seawards.
In order to provide effective protection for the porpoises and seabirds - especially the Red-throated and Black-throated Loons (Gavia stellata and Gavia arctica) - of the area the WWF and the Wadden Sea Protection Station are putting pressure on the responsible authorities at provincial, federal and EU level
Although the Harbour Porpoise protection area offshore from the islands of Sylt and Amrum on the German North Sea Coast has been officially in force since the end of 1999 it is not marked on any nautical charts. As a result motorboats still race with speeds up to 70 kph through the breeding grounds and nursery of the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena. Fixed fishing nets under 2 metres height are still permitted and a ban on higher nets has not yet been approved by the EU and is therefore only binding for German fishermen. The immediately neighbouring fishermen of Denmark and Holland (as well as the rest of the EU) are not affected. In addition, the latest scientific studies tend to the recommendation that the protection area should be further extended seawards.
In order to provide effective protection for the porpoises and seabirds - especially the Red-throated and Black-throated Loons (Gavia stellata and Gavia arctica) - of the area the WWF and the Wadden Sea Protection Station are putting pressure on the responsible authorities at provincial, federal and EU level