The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMVI) has announced that the nature reserves "Ziegelwerder" and "Kaninchenwerder und Großer Stein im Schweriner See" will soon be partially accessible for water sports again. This means that the navigation ban that has been in place since 2015 will be lifted. At the time, it had caused great outrage among sailors on Germany's fourth largest inland lake. The islands and a 100 metre wide zone around them are protected. The ban at the time was preceded by a long and often messy debate between water sports enthusiasts and conservationists.
However, according to the BMVI, there is now "agreement" with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety on a further amendment to the navigation ordinance for the two nature conservation areas "Kaninchenwerder and Großer Stein im Schweriner See" and "Ziegelwerder". This means that certain sections of the areas in question are once again authorised for anchoring and mooring. The ordinance will enter into force in November 2017 when it is published in the Federal Law Gazette.
Christian Schmidt, the Acting Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure, explains: "This is good news for all water sports enthusiasts. With the new navigation regulations, they can now once again use some of their traditional areas in Lake Schwerin. At the same time, we are continuing to take into account the interests of nature conservation and, in particular, bird protection on the islands."
Dr Till Backhaus, Minister for Agriculture and the Environment in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, says: "The change to the navigation regulations by the Federal Ministry is a breakthrough for water sports enthusiasts and nature conservation. I am delighted that we have reached a workable solution ... have reached a workable solution. With the current regulation, we are accommodating the interests of sailors and also supporting the city of Schwerin in the development of water tourism."
