WWF proposes fishing-free zones in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea

A good year after the unsuccessful end of the future dialogue on crab fishing in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea, the environmental organization WWF is presenting a plan for fishing-free zones. “The areas are chosen in such a way that the fishing activity of shrimp boats in the Schleswig-Holstein coastal waters is limited by around 25 percent while at the same time particularly valuable natural areas are protected,” said the WWF. The WWF is calling on the state government to develop regulations for improved protection of the underwater world.

Talks initially failed in the summer of 2025

The future dialogue between shrimp fishermen, conservationists and the state government about fishing in the national park failed for the time being in the summer of 2025 - although all sides had described it as constructive. The main reason was that the groups involved could not agree on the required extent of new fishing-free areas in the national park. Talks have not resumed since then.

In the spring of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture in Kiel did not assume that a final agreement supported by all those involved could be reached in the current legislative period. Elections in Schleswig-Holstein will take place in spring 2027. However, the goal of developing a sustainable and balanced solution through dialogue remains, it said.

In Lower Saxony you are further along

In Lower Saxony, fishermen, environmental groups and the state government are already one step further in the search for fishing-free zones. Around ten percent of Lower Saxony's coastal sea will be strictly protected and closed to fishing in the future. After a fisheries dialogue in July, the ministries for the environment and agriculture presented concrete area proposals, which are now to be discussed in the state parliament.