Increased fishing in the Baltic – despite Sweden’s opposition

Herring fishing is set to increase in the Baltic Sea, despite opposition from Sweden.

The government nevertheless considers next year’s quotas to be acceptable and relatively low.

‘Ridiculous,’ says the opposition.

The outcome of the EU negotiations is that herring fishing in the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay will be allowed to increase by just under 12 per cent, rather than the mere 3 per cent proposed by the European Commission.

For herring in the central Baltic Sea, the increase will be as much as 71 per cent compared with this year – rather than the proposed 49 per cent.

This runs counter to the Swedish position of ‘keeping a firm footing’ to avoid excessively high quotas.

‘A balancing act’

Peter Kullgren (KD) is nevertheless not entirely dissatisfied, given that the quotas are lower than the maximum levels set by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

“Sweden’s starting point was, of course, considerably lower from the outset, but at the same time, it is a balancing act that has to be performed in every negotiation of this kind. Moreover, this decision falls within the mandate I received from a unanimous EU committee,” said Kullgren following the agreement.

“I could have accepted the Commission’s original proposal, but I am satisfied given that no one else took that position,” said the minister.

‘Ridiculous,’ says C

The Government is also pleased that, together with other countries, it has ensured that small-scale, coastal herring fishing using gillnets and trammel nets may continue in the western Baltic Sea.

The EU Member States also agreed that recreational anglers may continue to catch salmon – albeit only farmed salmon.

However, the deal has come in for sharp criticism from the opposition.

‘It’s just plain stupid. At the first sign of a turnaround, when it actually looks as though the herring stock has recovered, the ministers, against all common sense, want to let large-scale fishing and giant trawlers step on the gas once again and empty the Baltic Sea,’ says MEP Emma Ytterell (C) to TT.

Pressure on Finland

Ahead of the negotiations, Swedish anglers have sent an open letter to Finland in an attempt to persuade the country to adopt Sweden’s more restrictive approach.

Kullgren thinks this is a good thing.

“There are a great many people who are passionate about fishing issues. I usually say: ‘It’s not me you should be telling off; we share the same view’.” “It’s about influencing others in a system where there are many of us involved in decision-making,” says the Minister for Rural Affairs.

Emma Ytterell – formerly Wiesner – agrees.

“It’s actually quite remarkable that the same viewpoint hasn’t gained traction in the other Baltic Sea countries,” says the Centre Party MP.