Whales in danger: So many strands in Schleswig-Holstein every year!

Whales in danger: So many strands in Schleswig-Holstein every year!

has been regularly reported on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein by died whales, especially in front of the beaches of Sylt, St. Peter-Ording and Friedrichskoog. The reasons for the beaches are attributed by experts to both natural circumstances and human influences. At the weekend, a dead sperm whale in front of Sylt was found, which is by no means an isolated case. Whales in the North Sea are at risk from the flat waters near the coast.

Historical incidents in the region illustrate the problem: in 1998, six sperm whales get lost in front of St. Peter-Ording, three of which survival and three strands. In 2002, three Pottwal bulls in front of Friedrichskoog died, presumably suffocated by their own weight. Another serious event occurred in 2016 when a total of 30 sperm whales died on the coasts of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, the Netherlands, Great Britain and France. This year, a emaciated baby orca on the beach of Rantum was also found, which is starved. A dead whale, probably a dwarf whale, was spotted in St. Peter-Ording in 2018, whereby the cause of death remained unclear.

causes and influences

The causes of the strands of whales are complex. Extreme weather situations can interfere with the animals' echolot location system. Solar storms and human influences such as underwater sprays as well as noise from Sonaren, which can affect the orientation of the whales, have also contributed to this. Historical information from the first seafarers show that North German seafarers used to chase whales in the Arctic Arctic Ocean, which was often dangerous.

The North Sea has an average depth of 94 meters. The regular tidal hub leads to dry falls at low tide on the flat coasts. Rivers and the Baltic Sea influence the salinity of the water that remains under that of the Atlantic. As a result, the seasons affect temperature changes more strongly, especially due to the low water depth. In 2023, the middle water temperature at Helgoland Reede was 11.9 degrees Celsius - the highest value since the beginning of the measurements 1962.

human activities significantly influence the North Sea; Oil and gas bores, offshore wind farms, shipping and garbage deposits represent great challenges for the marine environment. Despite restrictive EU regulations for fishing, these do not meet the recommendations of science. Only a few types of whale are known as permanent residents in the North Sea, including the pork whale with around 339,000 animals. Other types such as the big pool and the dwarf whale occasionally occur in the region, while Pottwhales typically are considered to be a deep -sea specialist.

For schools and interested parties, lectures on the Walarten of the North Sea are offered that address their way of life and the environment. These interactive presentations can be booked free of charge, whereby only travel costs can be incurred.