Return of the grey seal

Background and Objective

Grey seals were long considered extinct on the German Baltic coast. Since 2005, grey seals have again been sighted regularly on the coasts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and their population is increasing rapidly. With the return of the protected grey seals, small-scale coastal fisheries face new challenges. On the one hand, the grey seals eat fish that have already been caught from the fishing nets or eat them. Retrieving the remaining fish from the net is time-consuming work. Also, the nets are partially destroyed by the grey seals and have to be mended. On the other hand, by-catches of grey seals must be avoided.

At the instigation of environmental protection associations and the fishery, a participatory process was initiated with the aim of developing a seal management plan. The present project "Return of the Grey Seals" is intended to add a socio-scientific dimension to the development of the seal management plan and focuses on the people (stakeholders) involved in the process.

Approach

Through participatory observation, interviews and seminars, we create opportunities that allow the stakeholders involved to express their viewpoints while listening to the viewpoints of other stakeholders. Reflecting on different points of view creates a common understanding of each other's situation and problems and serves to increase acceptance. Developing a common vision directs the focus to commonalities - as opposed to focusing on antagonistic viewpoints - and lays the groundwork for identifying future paths of a possible future for fisheries and grey seal coexistence.