Decades ago, gray seals in the Baltic Sea were considered virtually extinct, mercilessly hunted by humans. Thanks to a hunting ban, the population recovered. Now, they’re making life difficult for fishermen.
Decades ago, humans had nearly wiped out gray seals. But now, the animals are making life difficult for fishermen in the Baltic Sea. One of Latvia’s last fishermen is responding with bite-resistant nets. In Sweden, hunting the animals is permitted again. The gray seal is Germany’s largest predator. And although seals are still rarely seen on the German Baltic coast, they’re causing conflicts here too.
The Baltic Sea is now home to around 55,000 of these animals. An adult gray seal eats about ten kilograms of fish a day.
Janis Krumins is one of the last fishermen on the Latvian Baltic coast. He has adapted his craft to the animals. With bite-resistant nets and homemade traps resembling fish traps, he tries to defy the predators.
To protect the fishermen, the Swedish government has lowered the animals’ protection status and has even permitted the hunting of a limited number of gray seals again. The quota has not been fully utilized — so far. Shooting the animals in wind and waves is difficult. Furthermore, selling the catch is not permitted.
Scientist Peter Ljungberg supports the hunting of these marine mammals, which can weigh up to 200 kilograms. The estimated 400 animals now living on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast still constitute an insignificant number.
Nevertheless, fishermen are suspected of having deliberately lured more than 40 of the protected animals into traps or nets last fall to drown them. The seals washed up dead on the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Marine biologist Judith Denkinger from the German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund has dissected the carcasses. The animals do indeed appear to have drowned. The return of gray seals to Germany’s Baltic Sea coast has become something of a murder mystery.
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