© Verena Karl
A portrait of a fisherman
Salt water in the veins
Fishing boats, nets and fish traps as far as the eye can see. Salty air, the gentle sound of the sea in the background - this is Möltenort harbour. In the middle of it all: Björn Fischer's car. The sea dog knows the Baltic Sea like the back of his hand and has been carrying on a long-standing family tradition for 40 years.
© Verena Karl
Björn Fischer has always known that the sea is his home. Born in Kiel, he is both captain and owner of a fishing business in Heikendorf harbour - and he is truly passionate about it. In a way, salt water runs through the veins of his family. Björn learnt the craft of fishing from his father Siegfried, now in the seventh generation. With his largest boat, the SK 14 Tümmler, Björn and his small crew often venture beyond the Bay of Kiel to the Danish island of Bornholm. When he's not out on the rough seas, he can be found in his small, but excellent sales van right by the harbour. In the low season, the fresh catch is sold here at weekends and in the summer, fish sandwiches have recently become very popular.
© Verena Karl
Fishing in transition
Although times and, above all, the Baltic Sea have changed a lot, the idyllic harbour is still a hub for fishing, pleasure craft, locals and tourists. Making a living from fishing alone is becoming increasingly difficult, reports Björn. "Until two years ago, we also lived exclusively from fishing, but we had to think of something else. Fortunately, we already had our sales trolley. We fish in winter and sell fish sandwiches in summer - it's working at the moment." Björn's fish sandwiches are very popular: the crispy baked goods are customised to suit individual tastes. The homemade cod rissoles are a real delicacy. A lot of fish also ends up on the Fischer family's plate at home. But Björn particularly likes the cod, prepared in the East Prussian style: with onions, potatoes and a hearty dill and cream sauce. In the summer season, he doesn't have time to cook extensively: "I have fish sandwiches almost every day. I usually start the day with a crab roll, even if I'm determined to have something else for breakfast. But then suddenly I get hungry ..."
© Verena Karl
Work on the high seas
Away from the summer months, Björn mainly devotes himself to fishing. Using trawls, he now mainly catches flatfish such as plaice, flounder and dab, which are offered for sale in the harbour at weekends. In spring, the fisherman's smaller boats are used to catch herring. Björn's stories make it clear that the job of a fisherman is more complex than you might think. "You have to be able to drive a boat, you have to master the fishing technique, you have to know how to help yourself if the engine breaks down, and you also have to cook for yourself. But if you're successful and catch something, the whole thing is just great fun." The SK 14 Tümmler is sometimes out at sea for a whole week. No matter how long the trips are, he never feels lonely at sea. On the contrary: he enjoys the peace and quiet that surrounds him. Often, the first word with crew members is only spoken after morning coffee. "Those are the best moments for me, when we have set our net in the morning and the crew go back to bed. I then have some peace and quiet and enjoy my cup of coffee."
© Verena Karl
A look into the distance
For Björn, it's clear why Heikendorf harbour on the Kiel Fjord attracts visitors: "You don't find such a versatile harbour everywhere. People simply love to spend time here. In recent years in particular, a number of attractions have been added, such as the fishing museum." His personal favourite place is not far from the harbour area. In the evenings, the fisherman is drawn to the duck bridge. Here he walks along the Mühlenau towards Kitzeberg. "If I have time, I just sit down on a bench and enjoy the view over the whole fjord from there."
© Verena Karl