Cuxhaven: As the fish smell belongs to the home of the lake town

Cuxhaven: As the fish smell belongs to the home of the lake town

in Cuxhaven, where the Elbe gently flows into the North Sea, a remarkable dialogue has developed over the striking smells that shape the coastal city. Despite the numerous visitors who come to Cux in the summer months and throughout the year to Cux or, as the locals, the characteristic fish smell, which looks like an acoustic sign of the region, is perceived by some as uncomfortable.

The journalist Matthias Günther from the Cuxhaven Nachrichten reacted in a private Facebook post to the increasing complaints about the fish smell in the city. He emphasizes that the smell belongs to the nature of the city. "Cuxhaven is a lake town and the fish smell has been there for so long, depending on the wind direction, sometimes more, sometimes less or not at all. Mostly with east wind," he explains, thus presenting the long tradition of fishing in this coastal region.

The tradition of fishing in Cuxhaven

The fish smell, which many find annoying, is viewed by many Cuxhaveners as part of their homeland. "For us here in Cuxhaven, fish smell means home," says Günther. This smell is closely linked to the local fish industry, which has shaped the life of citizens for generations. The local fish flour Bioceval is one of the main actors in this industry and has been producing fish flour and oil for various applications since the 1960s, including for animal nutrition.

In order to reduce the smell in the city, Bioceval has now announced considerable investments. The company plans to take measures to reduce the smell to an acceptable level, which is equally important for tourists and locals. "We took all measures to ensure a pleasant environment," says Managing Director Bodo von Holten.

original odor sources and new technologies

The processing of fish residues in the work naturally results in high odor loads. The fish residues are first boiled at high temperatures to kill germs and then dried. The process itself ensures emissions -rich exhaust air, which in the past came into the environment uncontrollably.

The company is subjected to strict regulations to regulate odor emissions. A limit value of 500 odor units per cubic meter must not be exceeded. To achieve this, the regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) was identified as a new method for exhaust gas cleaning. "It is a modern process for thermal exhaust gas cleaning that makes harmful components harmless through extreme heat," explains the RTO technology manufacturer Dürr.

The company has invested considerable funds in the new raw material silos. These silos are hermetically closed and enable targeted exhaust air treatment. It is the beginning of a conversion phase in which old, odor -intensive structures are replaced by modern technologies.

Nevertheless, there is also skepticism among locals. Some consider the fish smell as an integral part of their life in a lake town. "If you move to the country and then complain about manure, it is no different to pull with fishing than in a lake town. That is simply part of it," a Cuxhavener summarizes the opinion of many.

The city of Cuxhaven remains in the area of ​​tension between tourism and traditional fishing, whereby the smell of the past and the current reality represents clear memories of the maritime identity of the region. Cuxhaven remains a place where the essence of seafaring and the history of the city are deeply rooted.