Carp harvest in MV: tradition meets folk festival and new ideas!

Carp harvest in MV: tradition meets folk festival and new ideas!

The carp harvest begins this weekend in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a traditional event that attracts fishermen and onlookers alike. The first fishermen, including the well-known Andreas Frischke from Sternberg and the Müritz fishermen from Boek, have already started harvesting. With colorful festivals and numerous stands, a folk festival is being organized again this year, which is intended to increase the anticipation of the Christmas season. Hundreds of spectators are expected to watch the carp, which is traditionally served at Christmas and New Year's Eve, being harvested. The corresponding festival in Lewitz has been announced for the following weekend.

But as fishermen cast their nets, there is worrying news: demand for carp is plummeting. How NDR reported that in 2024, nine companies would harvest a total of 41.7 tons of carp - a drastic decline compared to ten years ago, when ten companies caught 193.9 tons. Steffen Steinbeck from Müritzfischer has also observed this declining development and is trying to counteract it by stocking carp, catfish and sturgeon in his ponds and offering fishing waters for tourists.

The rebirth of the Lewitz carp

A ray of hope could be the work of Hannes Wagner, who has revitalized carp farming in the Lewitz. With a total of 160 hectares of pond area and an investment of 49,000 euros, handed over by Agriculture Minister Till Backhaus, Wagner plans to revive carp farming in the region. Wagner, a 32-year-old wood dealer from Hoort, has already added 5,000 small carp to his ponds and is expecting a harvest soon. His goal is to sustainably continue the traditional pond management that was once operated by Hermann Stahl.

The return to carp farming is also associated with the construction of a new processing and sales room in order to be able to market the freshly caught carp directly. The fishing festival in Neuhof on November 1st promises to be a crowd puller, where the freshly caught carp can be sold. The Lewitz pond management has a long tradition, but many of the systems are in need of repair; the last significant investment was years ago.

Background information on carp production

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a central fish species in aquaculture not only in Germany but also throughout Europe. Originally native to Asia, the species spread to Europe through breeding and trade over the centuries. Carp are particularly popular as a food fish in Slavic countries, while consumption is increasingly declining in Western Europe. The most important carp products come from the Upper Lusatian pond industry in Germany, where a significant part of German carp production takes place.

Overall, keeping carp is a complex undertaking that requires legal regulations and extensive care. It is all the more pleasing that the preservation of tradition in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is picking up speed again through initiatives like Hannes Wagner's. The goal is clear: carp farming should not only be maintained, but also flourish.