Gray seals off Rügen: Unexplained deaths alarm environmentalists!

Gray seals off Rügen: Unexplained deaths alarm environmentalists!

A worrying issue is currently troubling residents and conservationists on the Rügen coast: the unknown cause of gray seal death. Loud NDR Since October 2024, over 40 carcasses of these majestic animals have been discovered on the east coast, although the majority of them have only recently been examined. At least ten gray seals have been dissected in the first six months of 2025, while around 20 more carcasses are still in cold storage awaiting analysis.

The current investigations by the Stralsund public prosecutor's office are only part of the picture: an unknown person is being investigated for a possible violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Environmental Protection Minister Till Backhaus has emphasized that so far no evidence has been found of a connection between the animals' injuries and existing fishing regulations. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense and unclear.

Research into causes is underway

Initial investigations have shown that some gray seals are showing signs of drowning. The histological findings are particularly revealing, as they show that three of the animals examined died in fishing nets. The injuries to the organs contradict the assumption of natural death and make the possibility of injuries caused by human activities plausible. In particular, the possibility of targeted poisoning is considered a serious consideration by experts, such as that daily news reported.

The gray seal, the largest seal species in Germany, can grow up to three meters long and weigh up to 300 kilograms. Loud BFN This species is an opportunistic hunter that shows a certain loyalty to its location. It remains to be seen how the number of carcasses will develop over the course of the year, although significantly fewer animals have been found so far this year. But the data has not yet been fully evaluated, so the exact situation remains unclear.

Conservation measures and the role of fisheries

In response to the worrying incidents, the authorities have already issued new regulations. Larger fish traps in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will in future have to be equipped with seal protection devices, a measure that previously only applied to the Greifswalder Bodden. Judith Denkinger, a nature conservation representative, praised this initiative and emphasized the importance of cooperation with the authorities in this context.

But these measures may not be enough. Henning von Nordheim calls for further proactive steps to improve fishing with seal-safe fishing gear. A high proportion - around 20 percent - of the seal population in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has already died, which further underlines the urgency of these measures. This work is also supported by the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) in Büsum, which supports the scientists at the Stralsund Marine Museum.

How the situation will develop remains to be seen. It is clear that the gray seal, as a protected species found in the Baltic Sea, needs increasing protection. This situation is important not only for the animals, but also for regional fisheries. Current projects to increase staff in the research area are scheduled to start from January 2026 in order to clarify the causes more quickly. In the future, fishing traps in the region that require approval may only be set up with special protective devices - a step in the right direction, but one that could also bring additional challenges for fishing.