Kosterhavet National Park – a Paper Park?

Deep Sea Reporter examines bottom trawling in marine protected areas – part two.
As a national park, Kosterhavet is covered by Sweden’s strongest nature conservation laws. On paper. In practice, extensive bottom trawling for shrimp is taking place, a fishing method that is considered one of the most destructive in the world.

Kosterhavet National Park, Sweden’s first marine national park, is run by a joint administration with representatives from nearby municipalities, the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland, commercial fishermen and researchers.

Now the administrators want to continue bottom trawling in the national park despite the Swedish Parliament’s decision to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas.
It is now up to the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management to decide whether there will be an exception – whether bottom trawling will be allowed to continue in Sweden’s most species-rich area.

Är parken som ska ha “sveriges starkaste naturskydd” inte helt skyddad?