Fishermen on Rügen Fined for Harbor Seal Deaths Linked to Negligence

Two fishermen from the island of Rügen have been fined for causing the deaths of at least five protected harbor seals trapped and drowned in their fishing nets, according to the Stralsund prosecutor's office. In October 2024, over 40 dead seals were found along the coast of Rügen, with drowning identified as the primary cause and natural causes ruled out. The fishermen, aged 43 and 66, failed to implement adequate safety measures despite observing seals entering and suffocating in their Schwimmreuse nets near Thiessower Haken.

The prosecutor issued fines equivalent to three months' salary for each fisherman for violating the Animal Protection Act. If they do not contest the fines within two weeks, the decision will become final; otherwise, a court hearing will follow. Although only five seal deaths could be directly linked to their actions, authorities have not excluded the possibility of additional fatalities connected to the nets.

In response to this spike in seal deaths, Environment and Fisheries Minister Till Backhaus (SPD) mandated that larger fishing nets along the entire coast be equipped with special seal protection devices to prevent future incidents. This new regulation follows a similar event in 2017, where unexplained seal deaths prompted safety requirements in the Greifswalder Bodden region, although previous investigations did not lead to charges.

Environmental groups, including the German Maritime Museum, the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve, and Sea Shepherd, filed complaints against unknown perpetrators, underscoring ongoing concern over the protection of harbor seals in the region.

"At least five harbor seals died, which the accused at least accepted with indifference," the prosecutor noted, highlighting the fishermen's negligence during the October 2024 incident.