Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan 2030: 3 new nature conservation areas in the Bay of Kiel

With the Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan 2030 the state government is pursuing the goal of placing 12.5 per cent of Schleswig-Holstein's Baltic Sea under strict protection by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, the designation of new nature reserves (NSG) is essential. This concerns the regions Gelting to Schlei at the exit of the Flensburg Fjord, the southern Hohwachter Bucht and an area west of Fehmarn, where stricter rules will apply in future.

At the inauguration ceremony for the first information board at Hohwacht Bay, Marine Protection Minister Tobias Goldschmidt said: "We humans are part of nature and live from it. We can clearly see in our Baltic Sea that we often cause damage in the process. The new marine protected areas will provide fish and harbour porpoises, seagrass beds and seabirds with important oases of peace. Plants and animals can literally breathe a sigh of relief here. This is one of the highlights of the action plan coming to fruition."

On the basis of various studies on the Baltic Sea, the ministry explained in a press release, areas were selected that are particularly worthy of protection due to their biodiversity, habitats, development opportunities and existing pressures. The decisive factors are the occurrence of endangered species and habitats and the threats to them. Some of the areas border on existing nature conservation areas and therefore fulfil a networking function for the migration, geographical distribution and genetic exchange of wild species.

What will change for water sports enthusiasts in the new nature reserves

According to the ministry, plants and animals may no longer be taken or disturbed in the new protected areas. Fishing, hunting, raw material extraction, construction projects and other changes to the waters and seabed are therefore prohibited. To minimise underwater noise pollution, motorboats are only allowed to travel at a reduced speed. The aim is to protect the areas as undisturbed refuges and minimise human impact.

Swimming, bathing, diving and fishing on foot from the shore or wading in the water with a hand-held fishing rod are still permitted. There are currently no restrictions for water sports enthusiasts in the new nature conservation areas, however, in accordance with the Baltic Sea Protection Action Plan for the three new marine protected areas, a Navigation regulation to the Federal Ministry of Transport. This means that water sports will only be possible in designated zones in winter (November to March). As Minister Goldschmidt has already made clear in the SURF interviewThere are to be one such corridor for water sports enthusiasts in the Gelting to Schlei nature reserve and two in the nature reserve west of Fehmarn. However, not a single corridor is planned in the protected area of southern Hohwacht Bay, meaning that winter storms could pass through spots such as Hohwacht or Lippe unsurfed in future. We have asked the responsible ministry why there is to be no water sports corridor in Hohwacht Bay - we will let you know as soon as we receive an answer.