German shrimp fishermen are being offered buy-outs to make way for offshore wind farms, sparking a cultural debate
The German government is offering to buy out North Sea shrimp fishermen to create space for offshore wind turbines, a move that is being criticised by far-right politicians who argue it is destroying a culturally significant practice.
The German shrimp fishing industry, which began in the late 1800s, is in decline. The 2023 catch of 7,500 tonnes of North Sea prawns brought in just €40 million, a stark contrast to the post-WWII era when catches exceeded 40,000 tonnes.
The industry’s decline is attributed to competition from towering offshore wind turbines, which have attracted significant investment, such as the €5.5 billion bid from TotalEnergies to build two new wind parks.
In 2024, the German government offered €20 million for crab fishermen to retire and scrap their vessels. However, local far-right politicians have voiced outrage, labeling the scheme as a Brussels-driven plan to dismantle regional culture.
Dario Seifert, a far-right Alternative for Germany MP, told Euractiv that the government is “financing decommissioning programmes… without taking into account the social and cultural value of fishing.” Another MP, Stephen Protschka, called the plan “frightening.”
The government’s program, which could see about a third of fishermen taking early retirement, comes as the EU proposes a ban on bottom trawling in North Sea nature protection sites—the same areas where crab fishing takes place.
While the buy-out is voluntary for crab fishers, those who want to continue fishing fear a similar fate to their colleagues who hunt langoustes further out. A new 2025 maritime plan has already cut a third of an area previously reserved for langoustes, prioritising wind energy.
While some older fishermen might see the buy-out as a financial blessing, the association of German shrimp fishermen EZDK fears that infrastructure maintenance costs will rise sharply for the remaining ships, as fixed costs will be spread across fewer businesses.
The legal framework for the buy-out is part of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). A draft regulation has been agreed upon and could take effect in 2025 if approved by the European Commission.
