Fisheries policy with a focus on viable fish stocks
The Baltic Sea’s fish populations are vital for the marine ecosystem, for our coastal communities, and for Sweden’s food security. However, the situation remains serious for several of the Baltic Sea’s commercial stocks. Cod still shows no signs of recovery, and the outlook for herring and sprat is weak. Scientific advice is also marked by uncertainties, partly due to data gaps and misreporting.
Despite this, the majority of the Swedish catch of herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea is still used for feed rather than for human consumption. This has negative consequences for both the marine environment and society at large. When fish is not used as food, potential benefits are lost in the form of jobs, value-added processing, socio-economic gains, and strengthened food preparedness. Sustainable fisheries management must therefore both contribute to the rebuilding of fish populations and create conditions for a coastal fishery that lands its catch in Sweden.
BalticWaters works to promote fisheries management that places recovery, precaution, and long-term societal benefits at its core.
Our vision is a Baltic Sea with healthy, resilient fish populations, where fishing is conducted on nature’s terms and the catch is primarily used for human consumption. To achieve this, we disseminate knowledge, develop evidence-based input, and advocate for political decisions that strengthen both the marine environment and the long-term value of the Baltic Sea’s fish resources.
In the coming years, we will focus our efforts on:
- advocating for quota decisions that allow fish populations to recover
- promoting scientific advice and decisions that support stock rebuilding and better account for uncertainties in stock assessments
- modernising quota allocation so that more fish is used for food rather than feed
- strengthening the conditions for coastal fisheries, landing, and processing in Sweden
- promoting fisheries policies that enhance Sweden’s food security
Project materials
In the Baltic Sea Brief, we highlight current Baltic Sea policy issues and analyse the impact of new decisions and research. Most briefs are in Swedish, but translated versions are available under Publications.
Reports
Future Fisheries for Food Production – A 10-year Perspective on Socio-Economic Growth (2026-04-29)
Finland’s Baltic Sea Fisheries at a Crossroads – societal cost or asset (2026-03-30)
Summary: Other countries have successfully rebuilt depleted fish stocks. Why can’t we? (2025-02-10)
International role models lead the way towards sustainable fish stocks in the Baltic Sea (2025-01-16)
Are EU fisheries ministers breaking the law? (2024-03-11)
Improper and fraudulent fishery (2023-03-15)
Political comments
Articles
Murky waters: Can bottom trawling improve oxygen conditions on the Baltic Sea floor? (2025-05-05)
Deep dive: A historical look back on the Baltic Sea fishing debate (2024-10-28)
Deep dive: Ecosystem-based fisheries management – utopia or opportunity? (2024-06-17)
Deep dive: How we got the current system for allocating fishing quotas – ITQ (2024-02-20)
Close to every fourth Swedish fishing boat stopped fishing in the Baltic Sea in 2022 (2023-02-07)
Deep dive: Herring policy across the border – Sweden vs Finland (part 3) (2023-12-08)
Deep dive: Herring policy across borders – Sweden vs Finland (part 2) (2023-11-23)
Deep dive: Herring policy across borders – Sweden vs Finland (part 1) (2023-11-03)