Below are the foundation´s various publications. BalticWaters monitors and writes about environmental policy issues related to the Baltic Sea in the Baltic Sea Briefs. Currently, most of the material is available in Swedish. Translated briefs will be published below.
Approximately 70–75 percent of Swedish herring catches are used for large-scale feed production, mainly in Denmark. If Sweden shifts toward a larger share being used for food, it could generate significant value.
Finland and Sweden are in the same boat: industrial fishing costs more than it is worth and hinders the recovery of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. A shift towards more inshore fishing could yield significant socio-economic benefits.
Large-scale fishing in Finland is a financial loss for society. A new report by Stefan Fölster shows that a recovery in the Baltic Sea’s fish stocks would generate significantly greater value – for the economy, coastal communities and the marine environment.
Sweden can both reduce eutrophication and strengthen its food preparedness by recycling plant nutrients – the technology exists and demand is high. So what is holding us back?
2026 needs to be the year when Sweden moves from making statements to bringing about real change. With the right decisions in 2026, Sweden can contribute to viable fish stocks and increased food security.
The results from BalticWaters’ five-year demonstration project show how nutrients can be recycled in agriculture. And there is considerable interest among Swedish farmers. Smarter use of nutrients strengthens Sweden’s food security and reduces the risk of
Preserving vibrant coastal communities requires measures that support fishing for human consumption and promote the values that fishing creates.
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 of 2025.
When the EU Council of Ministers decided on next year’s fishing quotas in October, Sweden was the only country to reject the high levels. The government’s rejection marks an important shift in Swedish fisheries policy, but
What does it mean that a species is alien, and when does it become invasive? BalticWaters explains the difference and how new species can affect our unique and vulnerable inland sea today and in the future.
The 2026 fishing quotas have been decided. Excessively high quotas were approved—but for the first time, Sweden does not support the decision. In addition, Sweden issued long-awaited statements.
Part two of BalticWater’s deep dive on scrubbers examines how shipping companies, manufacturers and refineries are profiting from scrubber technology – while the marine environment suffers the consequences.
Temporary fishing bans can make a difference if they are designed and implemented in the right place at the right time. The government has a lesson to learn in this regard ahead of this year’s negotiations on fishing quotas.
The European Commission’s proposal for next year’s fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea is good news for herring and sprat. It remains to be seen whether the Council of Ministers will choose to listen to the proposal when making its final quota decision.
The final brief before the summer lists five hopeful fisheries and fisheries policy developments from the first half of 2025. Happy reading!
BalticWaters has reviewed scrubbers – a technology that redirected ships’ ‘chimneys’ into the sea when air emissions needed to be reduced.
ICES advice for fishing opportunities in 2026 shows that several fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are in poor condition, yet fishing quotas may be increased. The Swedish government therefore has an important task ahead of this year’s quota decision.
What is the role of water inflows in the Baltic Sea marine environment? And how are they affected by climate change? BalticWaters has dived into the question to explore the importance of inflows.
Parliament will soon vote to ban bottom trawling in certain protected areas. Strangely, exceptions to the ban are proposed “if it is urgent”. But, is it ever urgent to bottom trawl?
International examples and research show that it is entirely possible to rebuild Baltic Sea fish stocks. But also that it would be socio-economically profitable – for everyone.
Tourism is the largest economic maritime industry in the Baltic Sea – it contributes to government revenues and is important for thriving coastal communities. However, the poor environmental status of the inland sea risks becoming a
Most of us are not aware of how we affect the ocean and how the ocean affects us. Why is this the case? And how can we improve our awareness?
How climate change is changing the Baltic Sea – and what our policy makers should do
To better understand the current debate on fishing and the deep divisions between different stakeholders, BalticWaters has investigated how the conversation has evolved over time.
Ecosystem-based – that’s how we want fisheries to be managed in the future. But what does it really mean and how will it be realised in practice? BalticWaters has spoken to experts in Sweden, reviewed reports
Why haven’t we made more progress towards a healthy and vibrant inland sea – despite stated ambitions and a comprehensive regulatory framework, both in Sweden and the EU, to prevent overfishing and other environmentally destructive activities?
New analyses from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) show continued worrying trends for several commercial fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. Sprat recruitment has never been as low as in the
Despite fish stocks being at critical levels, EU fisheries ministers took a decision to continue fishing in the Baltic Sea in 2024. This decision cannot go unnoticed. There are simply too many legal uncertainties and obvious missteps.
In a legal review of political decisions on fisheries in the Baltic Sea, we have analysed whether fisheries ministers were legally entitled to take the decision they did on 2024 fishing quotas – despite herring stocks being at alarmingly low levels.
The former Director General of the Swedish National Board of Fisheries 14 years after the introduction of ITQs: “I failed” – Today, the extension of individually transferable quotas for the bottom trawl fishery is being investigated
Last year was a dark year for the Baltic Sea environment and fish species. We list four essential measures needed to reduce the negative impact of fishing on the Baltic Sea.
Our inland sea is a key player in climate action, sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide in sediments and vegetation, especially along the coasts, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. However, coastal ecosystems are
The fishpopulations in the Baltic Sea are not doing well. In the central Baltic Sea, herring stocks continue to decline and in the Gulf of Bothnia, fishing needs to be reduced by 80 per cent for
Food culture expert Richard Tellström explains how the herring ended up on our christmas food table.
Swedish and Finnish policies differ in their approach to fisheries management in the Baltic Sea. BalticWaters takes a closer look at why.
The researchers in Finland do not believe that a fishing ban on herring is necessary. Instead, they want to focus on combating eutrophication and improving coastal environments. Swedish researchers, on the other hand, are concerned about the high fishing pressure and advocate for a zero quota.
An essential aspect of the project ReCod – release of small cod in the Baltic Sea – is the process of release. It’s crucial that the small cod larvae are adapted to the conditions prevailing in
Sweden and Finland are two of the nations that fish the most Baltic herring, but their perspectives on fishing differ. In an article series, we explore the reasons behind this.
Council of Ministers ignores Commission proposal The decision taken by the Council of Ministers earlier this week on the 2024 fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea is in many ways unique. It shows a remarkable historical
In August, the European Commission presented its proposal for next year’s fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea. After decades of heavy fishing pressure from the industry, scientific models proving wrong, and alarms about the decline of
A few decades ago, there were fish from the Baltic Sea to eat: cod and herring as well as coastal fish such as pike and perch, etc. Today, it is difficult to find any of these
We have developed a vision for a healthy Baltic Sea based on the current state of knowledge and interviews with scientists.
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has published its advice for fishing in the Baltic Sea in 2024. Before analysing it, we want to highlight a very worrying trend: Three years ago,
Politicians in parliament and government are helpless in the face of the Baltic Sea’s declining fish stocks, a crisis that means, among other things, that no environmental objectives for the sea can be achieved.
The CEO has the floorThis week we at BalticWaters have released an investigation that shows extensive misreporting of catches in the large-scale Swedish herring and sprat fishery. The investigation shows how large-scale trawlers systematically misreport catches
BalticWaters’ new review shows that misreporting and illegal discards are widespread practices and that the regulatory framework and its application are seriously flawed.
Today, large-scale industrial fishing is harvesting huge amounts of herring from the Baltic Sea,but only a fraction becomes food for humans. Of the 47,000 tonnes of herring and Baltic herringlanded in 2021, only 10 per cent
Last year was a lost year for implementing important protections for Baltic Sea fish species. Here we list the five most important measures for Baltic Sea fisheries in 2023.
In this memo we present the facts about fisheries and the necessary measures for 2023 to reduce the negative impact of fisheries on the Baltic Sea environment.
For decades, policy has failed to address the problems of the Baltic Sea, now it is time to work together to change policy.
The 2023 fishing quotas for the Baltic Sea were set in mid-October. Fishing for herring should have been reduced by more than 60% – yet the quotas were set high.
Without reducing sprat fishing, herring cannot be protected The sharp decline of herring in the Baltic Sea is not new. For years there have been alarmist reports about the deteriorating state of the stocks and the
In a consultation response, we highlight the changes necessary for the EU to achieve its sustainable fishing goals.
In this memo we present the necessary measures and information on fisheries policy in the Baltic Sea.
Politicians challenge scientists’ already uncertain advice – when will Sweden speak out?
Will the EU keep making the same mistakes?
ICES has published its 2023 advice on Baltic Sea fishing opportunities. The advice is important, but it should be used with high caution.
SwAM’s fisheries controlcosts amount to SEK 100 million, which corresponds to almost one eighth of the landing value of Swedish fisheries.
Is using fishmeal for salmon and mink a sustainable way of using Baltic Sea fish, when the risks are so great, and the fish are sold at a rock bottom price?
Research shows need for urgent measures- governments need to stop delaying.
The cod is nearly gone, and the herring are rapidly decreasing in number and size and are reaching sexual maturity earlier.
The fisheries policy and its loopholes.
The crisis in the Baltic Sea fish stocks is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the sea. Cod has collapsed, herring has declined dramatically, and several other important stocks are under threat. How can we let this happen?
A lot is said about the fishing sector and the fish stocks development in the Baltic Sea, but what is true? Below, BalticWaters tries to respond to common claims in the debate.
A collapse of herring could threaten the Baltic Sea ecosystem. It is hard to overestimate the importance of herring for the Baltic Sea and for Sweden. Herring is perhaps one of the most important species for the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
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