Baltic Sea Brief 83: 2025 in the Rearview Mirror

In this year’s final Baltic Sea Brief, we look back on the past year in fisheries policy and summarize some of the major events. 2025 was the year when the Swedish government voted against the Council of Ministers’ decision on fishing quotas and the issue of fish’s role in Swedish food security took center stage in the debate.

Expectations for Swedish fisheries policy were raised in 2025. When the government presented its new national food strategy at the beginning of the year, there was, albeit to a limited extent, recognition of the potential of Baltic Sea fish for Swedish food security. As the issue of preparedness has grown in importance, it seems contradictory that Sweden allows a significant proportion of its own fish to be used for feed and oil in Denmark, rather than for food for Swedish consumers. This also means that the value created by Swedish fish ends up abroad.

On a general level, the political discussion has been dominated by the need to rebuild the Baltic Sea’s fish populations and transition to fishing for human consumption that originates from and lands its catch in Baltic Sea ports. But to get there, several measures must be implemented – the fish stocks must recover and the necessary infrastructure along the east coast must be expanded.

During the year, the trawling limit has been moved out on a trial basis in parts of the central Baltic Sea, in an attempt to contribute to the recovery of weak fish stocks, but a full-scale relocation as announced in the Marine Environment Bill remains to be seen.

illustration som visar att 90 procent av sill- och skarpsillsfångster i Östersjön går till foderproduktion. Resten går till humanföda.
Around 90 percent of Swedish herring and sprat catches in the Baltic Sea are used for the production of fishmeal and oil, according to figures from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (2025.01.23). Given the government’s new policy of rebuilding fish populations, this seems contradictory. Illustration: Sofie Handberg

Translation: Fiskmjöl = fishmeal; Humanföda = human food

A New Bold Line Brings Responsibility

In October, the Swedish government chose not to support the Council of Ministers’ quota decision for 2026. A new and bold line. In addition, Sweden supported a joint statement to introduce scientific advice for the rebuilding of fish stocks and also made its own statement on the need for ecosystem-based fisheries management.

The government’s statements and ambitions need to be followed through. In 2026, it will be time to take action and show that they mean business by backing up their statements with concrete policies and decisive action. Sweden, for example, has the authority to introduce conservation measures within 12 nautical miles of the coast, and more can be done there. The government also needs to get involved in the formulation of the new scientific advice for recovery and stand firm in negotiations with other countries.

BalticWater’s Proposed Measures

During the year, BalticWaters has continued to argue that Swedish fisheries management needs to be modernized to meet the needs of the Baltic Sea and Sweden today. It is time to rebuild fish populations and put an end to large-scale industrial fishing. Some of the proposals we have put forward are:


• Introduce a “contingency quota” in the Baltic Sea. This means that a certain portion of the fishing quota is not allowed to be fished. The contingency quota is reserved as part of Sweden’s food security.

• Modernize the Swedish quota allocation. The government has the opportunity to reallocate quotas as early as 2026 in a way that benefits Sweden and the Baltic Sea.

• Promote appropriately placed, time-limited fishing bans. A recently published report commissioned by the European Parliament statesthat the situation for Baltic Sea fish is critical and that strong measures are needed. BalticWaters believes that appropriately placed and designed fishing bans are a step in the right direction.

• Prioritize national value creation over individual industrial interests. Today’s industrial feed fishing moves the value of Swedish-caught fish abroad, while the Swedish treasury loses 137 million SEK each year, according to a report by economist Stefan Fölster. At the same time, the distribution system for Swedish fishing quotas is counterproductive because it unilaterally favors large-scale feed fishing, without considering that other important values can be achieved.

Expectations have been raised, but there is still a significant gap between ambition and actual governance. In 2026, it will be crucial to move from analyses and statements to concrete decisions and decisive action. The opportunities are there. The needs are well known. But it is political will that will determine how much actually changes.

Next year, we will enter an election year. Then everyone will have the opportunity to contribute to a healthy Baltic Sea with viable fish stocks that create value for Sweden.

The Brief in Short

2025 was a year of heightened expectations for Swedish fisheries policy. In its National Food Strategy 2.0, the government acknowledged that Baltic Sea fish have a role to play in Swedish food security, and later took an important stand in principle by voting against the Council of Ministers’ quota decision for 2026. At the same time, the central challenge remains: to move from statements to concrete policy.

BalticWaters continues to promote measures that can strengthen both fish stocks and Swedish food security: a modernized quota allocation, the introduction of a security quota, appropriately designed fishing bans, and fishing that benefits the economy.

Next year, Sweden will hold elections, an opportunity for all of us to contribute to a healthy Baltic Sea.

Previous Baltic Sea Briefs from 2025: