Pellworm's "Wattmänner" Face Changing Wadden Sea Conditions
The Hellmann brothers, known as Pellworm island's "Wattmänner," are navigating a changing coastal environment marked by unusual discoveries and environmental shifts.
On the North Sea island of Pellworm, brothers Andreas and Jogi Hellmann, known locally as the "Wattmänner," are grappling with a rapidly evolving environment. While accustomed to finding novelties on the sandbanks, their recent discovery of a kilogram of cocaine underscores broader challenges, including the proliferation of Pacific oysters, mounting operational costs, and coastal erosion exacerbated by rising sea levels and stronger currents.
The brothers, who have guided tourists through the Wadden Sea for generations and formerly worked as professional fishermen, operate under a special permit to access seal banks within a national park's protected zone. This permit is set to expire in four years when they retire, with no clear successors in sight, potentially ending public access to these unique areas.
NDR has previously documented the Hellmann family's life on Pellworm since 2008. Over the years, they have unearthed significant historical finds on the sandbanks, including hundreds of silver coins, large quantities of amber, and century-old wine. Their fishing activities have also targeted areas inaccessible to other fishermen.
The latest NDR documentary, "die nordstory," revisits the Hellmann brothers. The film explores their continued way of life amidst these environmental and personal transitions, highlighting their past achievements and the uncertain future of their traditional pursuits on the island.