The ‘Schillerlocke’, sourced from the belly flaps of the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), may once have been a delicacy at German fish counters, but the reality today is different. The spiny dogfish is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as it is highly threatened due to slow reproduction and overfishing. Although it once occurred in large schools, intensive fishing has caused its populations to shrink drastically.
In addition to these threats to the shark, there are also risks associated with consuming the shark: the meat of the ‘Schillerlocke’ contains high levels of methylmercury, which bioaccumulates in the body and can cause serious health problems such as neurological damage. Pregnant women, children, and frequent consumers are particularly at risk. Despite these risks, ‘Schillerlocke’ is still offered in retail. For example, in a supermarket of the Globus chain in the Koblenz area. A team member was on-site yesterday and examined the displayed incoming goods logs more closely. The evaluation shows that the store received deliveries of 2 kg of ‘Schillerlocke’ on each of 6 calendar days in March 2025. That is 12 kg in a single month in one branch out of a total of 65 in Germany.
Choose the future of our oceans and say NO to ‘Schillerlocken’!
Your health will also thank you - you can find the methylmercury content of ‘Schillerlocken’ in our source!
