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Fischer Piehl is fighting against rising costs and declining crab stocks!
Fisherman Walter Piehl from Alt Schlagsdorf warns of economic challenges thanks to high energy prices and strict regulations.
Fischer Piehl is fighting against rising costs and declining crab stocks!
Today Walter Piehl, a fisherman from Alt Schlagsdorf, reports from his fishing room about the worrying economic situation in the fishery. While he used to fish on the high seas, he now works at Igelsee. But the challenges are enormous. “It’s time we talked about reality,” he says with a serious expression. The rising electricity prices of 38 cents per kilowatt hour are affecting him and making fish processing and cooling unaffordable. “Energy at prices around 20 cents per kilowatt hour would be a step in the right direction,” he demands loudly Uckermark courier.
High prices and declining inventories
Northern German fishermen are not only confronted with high operating costs, but also with drastically increased prices for cod, which make sales even more difficult. North Sea crabs can currently be sold for at least 80 euros per kilo, which reaches the limits of profitability for the popular crab rolls. According to restaurateur Karl-Heinz Kolle, the high prices mean he is keeping his traditional crab soup on the menu, despite the financial uncertainty. However, the general conditions could not be more stressful, it is reported NDR.
The situation in the North Sea is critical as the crab population is declining sharply. The crab's natural predator, the whiting, has expanded significantly and poses a serious threat to stocks. As fisherman André Claußen reports, fishing times have been restricted by the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) seal. Fishermen are now only allowed to fish at sea for 36 hours per calendar week, further limiting operations and potential returns. The stocks are said to be suffering from overfishing and climate change RND.
Policies and regulations
The unpopular regulations such as the Latin names of the fish that have to be labeled make things even more difficult for the fishermen. “Customers don’t care, it’s all far too much bureaucracy,” says Piehl. Because instead of fishing, he often spends time on labeling and complying with guidelines, which eats away at his calling. The constant regulations on fishing and the high demands of current energy policy lead to great uncertainty in the industry. “What will happen to the future of fishing in Germany if the regulations become more and more strict?” he asks himself worriedly.
With a decline in fishing businesses in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein, which have shrunk by more than 300 businesses since 2000, the question remains as to how long the shrimp fishing fleet, currently 180 boats strong, can continue to exist. It is time for fishermen to demand urgent support to future-proof the North Sea crab fishery and face the challenges with a clear head.