Baltic Sea Campaign
Defending Harbor Porpoises in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea Campaign
Protecting marine wildlife in the Baltic Sea
Sea Shepherd has been protecting marine wildlife in the Baltic Sea since 2017 with the patrol vessel M/Y Emanuel Bronner. Thanks to funding from the German Postcode Lottery, we are patrolling waters from Flensburg to Rügen to document and actively prevent illegal fishing activities or violations of existing conservation laws. In addition, we are protecting marine animals by removing death traps such as abandoned fishing gear polluting the sea as well as the beaches. Our work will put a spotlight on the problems Baltic Sea faces and will raise awareness for the need of protection.
Latest News
#Defend500: The Baltic Harbor Porpoises Need You to Take Action
In the Perkunas campaign Sea Shepherd Germany patrolled several protected areas in the Baltic Sea between April and June. The crew of the MV Emanuel Bronner monitored fishing gear to expose the major threat for the critically endangered harbor porpoises: being caught and drowned accidentally in gillnets (also known as “bycatch”). With only 500 animals left, the Baltic harbor porpoise population doesn’t have much time left. For decades scientists have agreed that gillnets pose the major threat to the porpoises in the Baltic Sea due to the high risk of being killed as bycatch. Still, this fishing gear is permitted even in Marine Protected Areas. It's time to take action before it's too late!
Contact EU Policymakers
Take Action
Write policymakers your demand to ban gillnets and other destructive fishing gear from Natura 2000 areas, designated for the protection of the harbor porpoises in the Baltic Sea.
> Contact the EU Commission department for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
> Contact the EU Commission department on Energy, Climate change and Environment