Sassnitz/Hamburg (dpa/mv) - Two years after the spectacular stone-throwing campaign by the environmental organization Greenpeace in the Baltic Sea off Rügen, the decision on the announced fine is still pending. As a spokeswoman for the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in Hamburg said on Friday, the legal dispute in this case is still ongoing. From July 26 to 29, 2020, Greenpeace sunk tons of granite stones in the protected area about 25 kilometers from Sassnitz - despite a quick ban by the authorities. According to the organization, this was intended to protect the seabed from being destroyed by bottom trawling.
The incident caused quite a stir at the time. The Federal Office had prohibited the action and threatened a fine of up to 50,000 euros. Nevertheless, the whole thing went on for a few days. In Sassnitz, fishermen demonstrated violently against the "illegal stone-throwing campaign". The German Fisheries Association asked the federal police to stop the action immediately.
According to the Federal Office, the environmental organization had appealed against the decision of the authority. These were justified after about a year. The office has now explained its position again, but has not yet finally decided on a fine. According to the BSH, Greenpeace had violated the "Hohe-See-Einführungsgesetz" and obstructed legitimate fishing outside of certain closed seasons in the sea area.
