News
March 20, 2009
Swedish-Danish harmony on Kattegat gear
After agreeing last November on a no-fishing zone in the Kattegat, Sweden and Denmark will now harmonise the rules for gear to be used. The areas with restrictions were set up to protect the dwindling cod stock in those waters, but in those parts where fisheries with selective tools were permitted, Swedish and Danish fishermen … Continued
March 18, 2009
New step on Recovery Road for northern hake
A long-term plan to improve the stock of northern hake has been adopted by the EU Commission. The proposed plan will replace the 2004 recovery plan that, according to the Commission, has helped the fishery recover to a safe target size advised by scientists after facing near collapse. The next step, via this proposed new plan, is … Continued
March 12, 2009
Deeper than we thought
Deep-sea commercial fishing may have much deeper effects than previously thought, harming fish populations a kilometre below the deepest reach of fishing trawlers, a new British study shows. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B., compared data from the Northeast Atlantic from two different periods, before and after the commercial … Continued
March 12, 2009
Swedish aquaculture could well grow, report says
Conditions are good for a growth in aquaculture in Sweden, a Government report says. At present, the aquaculture industry in Sweden is smaller than in most neighbouring nations, the study shows. With an abundance of lakes, stemmed rivers and power dams, Sweden has a strong basis for expanding aquaculture activities, according to the report, mentioning … Continued
March 10, 2009
Polish stakeholders meet Swedish colleagues
Challenging meetings with Swedish fishermen and administrators and 700 kilometres of bus travel marked three intensive days as FISH went on tour in southern and western Sweden with 18 Polish fishery stakeholders last week. The study trip was part of the joint Eko-Unia/Our Earth Foundation/FISH project “The Baltic is in Poland; The Baltic is in … Continued
March 10, 2009
Hard times ahead for Swedish anglers
Swedish anglers in the Baltic may face sharp restrictions in their quest for pike this summer. The Board of Fisheries has proposed a three-units-a-day limit for anglers with hand gear, and only those fish between 40-75 centimetres may be kept. The background to the proposal is the dwindling Baltic stocks of pike, a classic for … Continued
March 9, 2009
Big cuts in Swedish trawler fleet
A 40 per cent reduction of the Swedish trawler fleet in western waters by 2015 has been proposed by the Swedish Board of Fisheries. That reduction of the fleet in the Skagerrak, the Kattegat and the North Sea would equal some 60 vessels. The process would be carried out through subsidies for scrapping boats and … Continued
March 9, 2009
Swedish government bill adopts the eco-system approach
In a comprehensive maritime policy bill, to be introduced to the Riksdag by March 17, the Swedish Government has proposed the establishment of a new agency responsible for the marine environment as a whole. The policy bill, which also included measures against eutrophication and coordinated efforts in the fields of fisheries, agriculture and shipping, said … Continued
March 9, 2009
FAO urges fisheries to observe climate change
Current management plans and practises for responsible fisheries should be expanded to take into consideration climate change, the FAO said in its annual “State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture” (SOFIA) report. “Best practices that are already on the books but not always implemented offer clear, established tools towards making fisheries more resilient to climate change,” … Continued
March 9, 2009
Moving day for MSC
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) eco-labelling organisation has moved its Asia-Pacific headquarters from Sydney to Tokyo. The background of the strategic decision was the growing interest in the region for participation in the MSC programme. Japan is the second largest seafood producer and consumer market in the world. Several Japanese fisheries are engaged at different … Continued