Shark Alert at Plötzensee

Help the Lake Plötzensee and keep the Nature in Peace!

Of course, there are no sharks in Plötzensee. But things are really not good for this small lake in the middle of the city.

Far too many people bathe in it and trample the shore flat. In addition, it is getting warmer and warmer, and that puts an additional strain on the ecosystem. As a result, the lake is in danger of tipping over. If that happens, no one would be able to swim in it or walk comfortably around it. The water would start to stink and dead fish would float on the surface.

Nobody wants a dead Lake. So stick to a few simple Rules.

Respect the fences, plants and animals. Make other visitors aware of the problem. If you want to swim, use the designated beach area. If you stay in the fenced areas, you will harm the nature – even if you are careful.

What exactly the Problem is:

A beautiful lake is not just water in a hole, but a highly complex ecosystem. Only when this interplay of animals, plants and microorganisms works can the water be clear and fresh and nature provides the recreation we all value so much. But for such an ecosystem to run, it needs many different species of animals and plants. The more, the better. Because few species mean that an ecosystem is less able to cope with challenges and changes – such as human excrement and sunscreen in the water, or the ever-rising temperatures caused by climate change.

Because our Plötzensee is so popular and people bathe and relax everywhere on its shore, many animal and plant species are driven away: Animals disappear that actually like to breed in the shore area; plants are trampled flat; the ground is so compacted that new plants can hardly grow and the reed belt, which actually makes up a lake and which forms a particularly important retreat for animals, hardly exists anymore.

So Lake Plötzensee has a problem: due to the lack of biodiversity and the crowds, its ecosystem is on the verge of collapse.

We should urgently change this if we still want to have something from the lake in a few years. Because we all know: It’s getting hotter and hotter. And recreational areas like Plötzensee are becoming more and more important and at the same time more endangered.

So please respect the fencing around the shore areas and relax at the lido. Do not go swimming in the lake from fenced areas.

How are we supposed to stop the climate catastrophe if we can’t even manage to protect a city lake?

The Campaign

The action is intended to do one thing above all: catch attention. We want to raise the awareness of bathers, explain the background and make clear how important the protection of flora and fauna is in this beautiful place. After all, water protection is climate protection!

It is absolutely understandable that the jump into the cool wet is tempting. And of course it is allowed to swim in the Plötzensee! However, not everywhere. Because many shore areas belong to the landscape protection area. The unpaved shore provides space for breeding grounds and is a refuge for waterfowl and other animals. There are also many plants that are essential for the ecological balance of the lake.

The installation of the shark fins is intended to create confusion. “Are there really sharks swimming in Plötzensee?”. The shark alarm is meant to make you smile and be an eye-catcher, but mainly to make you think.

We are sure that many of the mainly young people have a very positive attitude towards nature and climate protection. We want to convey the connection between these big issues and our small beautiful Plötzensee. A ban alone does not help here, we also have to educate!

• 

  The construction fence banners were installed at three locations around Plötzensee.

• 

  By support of the beach bath Plötzensee we could install the shark fins in the lake.

• 

  From the shore path, the shark fins are meant to cause confusion.

• 

  With the help of the banners, citizens can inform themselves about the campaign and the problem.