Save the Great Cormorants of Lake Constance

“It is hard to believe that Freiburg local authority intends to commit such a destructive act, not only in a National Nature Reserve but especially within a European Special Protected Area (SPA)”, said Dr Andre Baumann (chairman - NABU Baden-Württemberg). “This persecution of Great Cormorants not only contradicts common sense, it also contravenes European bird protection legislation and is morally unjustifiable”. NABU is protesting to the authorities in Freiburg against the planned operations and has started an online petition.

Freiburg local authorities are planning to use searchlights to drive breeding birds from their nests during April. This will leave eggs to grow cold, and chicks to freeze to death. Experience in Brandenburg with such a massive disturbance has shown that the Great Cormorant offspring have no chance of survival.

"It is hard to believe that the Freiburg local authority intends to commit such a destructive act in a Special Protected Area" —Dr Andre Baumann, Chairman, NABU Baden-Württemberg

The Great Cormorants at Lake Constance will also be shot form the first of August onwards. At that time of the year many of the young chicks will still be dependent upon their parents.

The Great Cormorants of Lake Constance became locally extinct in the 1970s. Strict conservation laws enabled the populations to re-establish. At present, over 90 pairs breed in the Radolfzeller Aachried Nature Reserve, in the western area of Lake Constance.

The colony is a cause of concern for local anglers and commercial fishermen, who have put pressure on the Freiburg local authority to drive the birds away. “The interests of a minority must not be allowed to override the rights of residents and the natural world. The persecution of Great Cormorants will ruin the reputation of the Lake Constance region as a holiday destination for nature lovers,” commented Baumann. Many other bird species like the Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina, Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus and the Black Kite Milvus migrans, may also suffer as a result of the searchlight attack.

"NABU conservationists are protesting to the Freiburg authorities, and have threatened to take legal action if the 'searchlight abortion' takes place" —Manfred Lieser, Chairman, NABU Radolfzell-Singen-Stockach

Great Cormorants are accused of damage to fish stocks at Lake Constance and subsequent economic losses. These arguments lack evidence. “It has neither been proven that the Great Cormorant seriously endangers fish stocks or significantly affects the fishermen’s economic existence,” noted Manfred Lieser (chairman - NABU Radolfzell-Singen-Stockach). “Despite this, Freiburg local authority plans to erase the colony and thereby accepts the disturbance of other protected bird species in an SPA. That kind of approach calls into question the sense and purpose of legally protected areas”.

NABU is currently considering legal steps in order to stop destruction of the colony. NABU conservationists are protesting to the Freiburg authorities, and have threatened to take legal action if the “searchlight abortion” takes place. NABU has launched a protest petition on its website.

The clock is ticking - the colony is due to be destroyed this April. Please join the NABU petition and send an email to Freiburg City Council. You will find an email prepared in English and German at www.NABU-BW.de.

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