Stranded Humpback Whale in the Baltic Sea: Why Existing Protection for Marine Mammals Often Falls Short

The tragic fate of the stranded humpback whale in the Baltic Sea reveals that although marine mammals are strictly protected in Germany and the EU, this protection often fails in practice.

OceanCare therefore demands from German politics the consistent implementation of existing protection obligations — particularly in fishing and with pollution from underwater noise and plastic.

OceanCare is once again calling for a regional reduction in shipping speed for the North and Baltic Seas. This would simultaneously reduce noise, emissions, and collision risks with marine animals.

The recent designation of three protected areas for the highly endangered Baltic porpoises is an important step. However, it will only be effective if concrete measures and consistent implementation follow.

OceanCare emphasizes that the exact cause of the whale's straying and repeated stranding can only be conclusively assessed on the basis of secured expertise. At the same time, the case already clearly shows: Marine mammals are strictly protected in Germany and the European Union, but this protection too often fails in practice.

EU law belongs to the strictest worldwide: The Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive comprehensively protects whales and dolphins, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive obliges member states to ensure a good environmental status of the seas, and ASCOBANS establishes international protection obligations for small whales in the North and Baltic Seas. This makes it clear: What matters is not the mere existence of regulations, but their actual implementation.

The fate of the humpback whale affects many people. OceanCare shares this concern and thanks the numerous individuals involved for their efforts. It is crucial to assess the situation objectively and to follow with concrete political measures.

A tragic case with a clear political mandate

Whale strandings are often not isolated natural events but sad occasions to address still existing protection gaps. Numerous human activities in the sea still do not align with the existing protection of marine mammals.

These include particularly destructive fishing methods like trawl fishing and sea pollution with lost or improperly disposed fishing gear. Additionally, increasing underwater noise stresses and disorients whales, and fast-moving ships often collide with the animals. According to the experts, the stranded humpback whale is believed to have sustained injuries during its lifetime that may have been caused by a ship's propeller and fishing nets.

Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Cooperation at OceanCare, says: "The stranded humpback whale painfully highlights the gap between protection claims and reality. Marine mammals are strictly protected, yet too often there is a lack of consistent implementation of the laws. To reduce suffering, stranding, and death among animals, existing rules must finally be effectively applied. And where necessary, they should also be strengthened."

This is especially urgent with regard to the critically endangered porpoise in the Baltic Sea. With fewer than 500 individuals, the only native whale species in the Baltic Sea is among the most endangered marine mammals worldwide. The recent designation of three new protected areas by Schleswig-Holstein is therefore a positive and important signal. However, these protected areas will only realize their value if words are followed by actions.

OceanCare therefore calls on German politics at national, regional, and international levels to take the following steps:

Strict and effective protection measures for the porpoise in the Baltic Sea. Key to this is the consistent implementation of existing and recently created protection regulations.

A significant reduction of underwater noise in the North and Baltic Seas, including expanding the existing noise protection concept in the North Sea to all German seas. Since marine mammals use sound for orientation, communication, and foraging, noise poses a direct threat to their survival. By expanding the noise protection concept, the good environmental status of the seas required by the EU Marine Strategy (MSFD) should be achieved.

OceanCare calls for a ban on seismic activities for the exploration of oil and gas deposits in all German waters.

A mandatory speed reduction in shipping in cooperation with neighboring states in the North and Baltic Seas. Simply implementing a speed reduction in shipping will decrease fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, underwater noise, and the risk of collisions with whales.

More protection from the harmful effects of fishing. This includes particularly determined action against lost or improperly disposed of fishing gear and reducing bycatch rates. Especially destructive fishing activities, such as bottom trawling, should be completely phased out by 2030.

OceanCare also points to the international dimension of such cases. Many threats to migratory marine mammals know no national borders. Ghost nets and plastic pollution threaten marine life worldwide. Therefore, OceanCare advocates for a binding global plastic agreement. This should address the causes of marine litter, tackle the issue of ghost nets, and, together with the new high seas protection agreement, create better solutions for migratory species like humpback whales.

The increasing underwater noise is also a cross-border problem. Continuous noise from shipping and explosive noise emissions from certain industrial, military, or seismic activities massively affect not only marine mammals but the entire marine wildlife. Like other whales, humpback whales rely on acoustics for communication and orientation. Effective marine policy must thus connect national measures with regional and international cooperation.

OceanCare simultaneously stresses that the well-being of each individual animal must always take precedence. Decisions about rescue actions, support, or potentially euthanasia must be made by the responsible experts and authorities based on the animal's health status. Public attention to the humpback whale is also an opportunity: People are usually more empathetic toward the fate of a single animal than to abstract threats. This case can therefore help highlight larger contexts and the political responsibility to effectively improve living conditions for marine mammals.

Fabienne McLellan, Managing Director of OceanCare, demands: "Attention towards the stranded humpback whale must not end with concern. It must lead to better protection conditions for all marine mammals. At the same time, the case offers an opportunity to pause and question the impacts of our consumption habits. Whether it's plastic waste in the oceans or fish often ending up on our plates through destructive fishing methods: The marine world suffers from our consumption and can become collateral damage at worst. If we truly want to protect whales and other marine fauna, we must also be willing to change our behavior."

Press contact

Anton Mattmüller
Press Spokesperson OceanCare
amattmueller@oceancare.org
+43 681 10619366

OceanCare
Gerbestrasse 6
CH-8820 Wädenswil
Tel +41 44 780 66 88
presse@oceancare.org
www.oceancare.org

Editor's note: Image rights belong to the respective publisher. Image rights: OceanCare