Schillerlocke, made from the belly flaps of the spiny dogfish, may once have been a delicacy at German fish counters, but today’s reality is different. The spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as it is highly threatened by slow reproduction and overfishing. Although it once occurred in large schools, intensive fishing has caused its populations to decline drastically.
In addition to these threats to the shark, there are also hazards from 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 and children are particularly at risk, as well as frequent consumers. Despite these risks, Schillerlocke is still offered for sale. For example, in a Globus supermarket in the Koblenz area. A team member was on site yesterday and took a closer look at the displayed goods-receipt logs. The analysis reveals that the store received deliveries of 2 kg of Schillerlocke on each of 6 calendar days in March 2025. This equates to 12 kg in a single month at one of 65 branches in Germany.
Choose the future of our oceans and say NO to Schillerlocke!
Your health will also thank you - you can find the methylmercury content of Schillerlocke in our source!
