Nature Conservation/Harbour Porpoises Environmental Organisations: Immediate halt to the recovery of munitions in the North and Baltic Seas Previous research into noise control for harbour porpoises inadequate

Neumünster/Berlin – NABU (German Society for Nature Conservation), the GRD (Society for Dolphin Conservation) and the GSM (Society for the Conservation of Marine Mammals) have requested the State of Schleswig-Holstein and the Federal Government to impose an immediate cessation to detonations of old munitions’ deposits in the North and Baltic Seas in order to protect the harbour porpoises. The moratorium should be maintained until a safety concept based on scientific findings has been developed which would effectively protect marine mammals. This would include adequate noise mitigation measures, an accompanying detonation monitoring programme and a suitable repellent from the danger zone. The shock waves resulting from the underwater blasts can cause highly-dangerous tears in the hearing system or in the lungs of the marine mammals. It is estimated that between 400,000 – 1,300,000 tons of old munitions remain in the North and Baltic Seas, which were sunk during or after the Second World War. The State of Schleswig-Holstein wants to gradually blow up the dangerous munitions.

“It is not right that detonations are undertaken indiscriminately before carrying out research on the possible consequences for the underwater world,” criticises the President of NABU, Olaf Tschimpke. It is the obligation of both State and Government to do everything within their power to protect small whales, which are dependent on their sensory systems, from injuries caused by detonations. Currently, approximately 340,000 harbour porpoises are living in the North and Baltic Seas, of these less than 45,000 in the Baltic Sea.

“It is possible to cushion the noise with the artificial generation of air bubbles, which is currently being researched in connection with the building of offshore wind farms,” says Petra Deimer from the GSM.

“Simply leaving the now uncovered torpedoes and mines on the seabed, however, is not a solution as the explosives are a serious threat to both humans and the environment,” according to Ulrich Karlowski from the GRD.

As well as the explosive TNT, the obsolete munitions also contain heavy metals and nerve gasses. The best option would be the salvage and disposal on land. If this is not possible, alternative technologies should be explored, taking the protection of whales into consideration.

For queries or further information :

Sven Koschinski, Tel. +49 4526 381716

Ingo Ludwichowski, NABU Schleswig-Holstein, Tel. +49 160 96230512

Petra Deimer, GSM, Tel. +49 4106 4712