FISHERMEN’S STRUGGLE ON LAKE CONSTANCE
KARL THE OWNER OF „FISCHEREI KAPFHAMMER“ IN NONNENHORN IS PUTTING OUT HIS NETS EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT FISH ORIGINALLY FOUND IN THE LAKE CONSTANCE LIKE WHITEFISH, BASS AND TROUT ARE SCARCE NOWADAYS. HE´S HOLDING ON TO THE SUSTAINABLE VALUES.
SEWAGE PLANTS ON THE LAKE CLEAN THE WATER OF IMPURITIES SUCH AS PHOSPHATE. WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD THING RIDS THE WATER OF NUTRIENTS, THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR FISH TO FEED ON AND SURVIVE. IF KARL MAKES A CATCH, HE DELIVERS THE FRESH FISH TO RESTAURANTS AND ALSO SELLS THE FISH IN HIS SHOP. BUT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE FISHERMEN ARE FORCED TO BUY FISH FROM COUNTRIES SUCH AS NORWAY OR ICELAND.
IN THE FUTURE IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A LIVING AS A FISHERMAN IF FISH POPULATION KEEP DIMINISHING AND THE GOVERNMENT WON‘T PAY ATTENTION. THEN, SOON, ONE OF THE OLDEST TRADES ON THE LAKE OF CONSTANCE WILL VANISH.
BY 2020 THE GOVERMENT WILL DECREASE THE NUMBER OF ALLOWED FISH ENTERPRISES AROUND THE 536 SQUARE-KILOMETER BIG LAKE TO 80 BECAUSE OF THE LOW RETURNS THE FISHERMEN MAKE.
