‘The decision to ban trawling in the Baltic is a death blow to small-scale fishing and Sweden’s food security,’ warns Anton Paulrud, CEO of the Swedish Pelagic Federation.
‘If we are to preserve a viable fishing industry and ensure stable food security, policy must be based on science, not symbolic bans.’
A ban on pelagic trawling in parts of the central Baltic came into force on 1st February and extends to 30th April 2027. The Swedish Pelagic Federation is questioning the process behind this, in which the decision was made just nine days after the deadline for comments.
‘It is obvious that this has been a rushed process, which is particularly remarkable since the ban will neither create increased understanding of the ecosystem nor the impact of fishing, but at the same time entail major economic losses for both the fishing industry and the industry,’ Anton Paulrud commented.
The Swedish Pelagic Federation points out that the EU recently doubled the quotas for herring in the Baltic for 2025, based on a recommendation by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). With these quotas, ICES estimates that the stock of herring that is substantial and the spawning biomass will grow by almost 20% by 2026.
‘The recommendation shows that stocks are increasing, which is a consequence of management measures in recent years and shows the importance of a long-term sustainable focus,’ he said, commenting that the decision will also have consequences for Sweden’s food security, as the trawling ban displaces and concentrates activity to other areas, which in turn leads to negative effects on stocks, fishing and the processing industry in these areas.
‘In today’s uncertain geopolitical situation, the government is sending the wrong signals. Worsening conditions for the pelagic fishing industry goes against the asipirations for greater civil preparedness. Sweden’s fishing is an important part of our food supply, and decisions must be based on science – not symbolic politics,’ Anton Paulrud said.
