With regulations expected to be introduced in 2022 for pingers to be fitted to static fishing gears in some Baltic waters, a requirement will apply to Swedish fishermen operating off Skåne and they can apply for financial support towards purchasing pingers.
The measures are designed primarily to protect the endangered Baltic porpoise, one of the world’s smallest cetaceans, of which only 500 are believed to be left.
EU member states around the Baltic Sea have sent proposals to the European Commission on measures in marine protected areas aimed at reducing the risk of by-catch by porpoises.
These requirements are expected to take effect this year.
For Swedish fishermen, this means that pingers will be mandatory on static gears between 1st May and 31st October. Subsidies are available and applications are open up to 30th April.
‘By rigging their nets with pingers, Swedish fishermen contribute to protecting the endangered Baltic porpoise,’ said Andreas Mattisson at the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
‘At the same time, fishing can continue in the areas where the porpoises are located, so that we can get more Swedish-caught fish on our tables.’
Image: Sara Königson, SLU
