Freshly caught fish in Travemünde’s fishermen's harbour

There’s plenty happening in the fishermen's harbour in Travemünde every morning. The earlier, the better. That’s when the fishing cutters return with their catch from the Baltic Sea – usually accompanied by a swarm of crying, hungry seagulls. These fishermen who depend on fishing for their living chug out into Lübeck Bay in their cutters before sunrise almost every morning, hoping for a good catch in their nets. Their “bread-and-butter fish”, i.e. the fish which provide their living throughout the year, are cod, plaice and herring. For some years now, saithe have also been getting lost in Lübeck Bay. Several hours later – usually around 8 in the morning – they return to their berths in the fishermen's harbour, and you can buy their freshly caught fish direct from the boat out of colourful fish boxes on board or at the sales stalls on land. It couldn't be fresher!

Whether herring, cod, saithe or plaice – fish from the cutter is local, seasonal, fairly caught and traded, sustainable and high quality. The fisherman in front of you names his price and if you like, you can even choose your favourite fish.The fish is gutted and if you want even filleted right there and then so you only have to pop it in the frying pan that same evening. Bon appetit!

The supply of fish always depends of course on the wind and weather and on the time of year. Sometimes the nets come back empty, it’s unpredictable. The fishermen have to take account of fish bans and closed seasons in order to preserve stocks.