The Swedish fisheries administration – an overview Maria Hellsten, head of executive staff unit

The Swedish fisheries administration – an overview

Maria Hellsten, head of executive staff unit

Executive staff unit

The Swedish Natural Resources● long coastline, around 2 700 km

● important archipelago areas in the Baltic Sea and on the west coast

● significant differences in climate and salinity

● the largest lakes in Europe (Vänern, Vättern)

● a total of more than 100 000 lakes



How the fisheries administration is organised

● The Swedish parliament and the Government. Proposals for new laws are presented by the Government which also implements decisions taken by the parliament .

● The Government is assisted by the Government Offices (including ministries) and by central government agencies.

● The Ministry of Agriculture has a wide range of responsibilities, including matters relating to agriculture, fisheries and food.

● Government authorities, in this case the Swedish Board of Fisheries. The Board is thus subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture.


● The Swedish Board of Fisheries is thus the government authority responsible for the conservation and exploitation of Sweden's fish resources. Within the framework of our sectoral responsibility for the environment we promotes ecologically sustainable management of fish stocks.

● Like other government agencies we are autonomous. This means that we operate on our own responsibility but in accordance with guidelines drawn up by the Government in what are known as appropriation directions.


The Board regulates the fishing industry and the recreational fishing in Sweden:

● We implement the decisions taken within the Common Fisheries Policy

● We regulate the fishing industry and the recreational fishing on a national level along the coast. Fishing in the five largest lakes in Sweden – Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, Hjälmaren and Storsjön.

● All other lakes are private and are regulated within fishery conservation areas. For the purpose of co-ordinating fishing and fishery conservation and promoting the common interests of the fishing rights proprietors.


Swedish Board of Fisheries14 locations throughout Sweden,head office in Göteborg

Human resources: 359

Turnover: SEK 266 million



Research and Development Dept.

● building knowledge of fish stocks, fishing techniques and the environmental impact of fishing.

● collecting data on fish stocks and the environment.

● assessing the state of the stocks and how they are affected by fishing.

● evaluating the environmental impact of fishing methods.

Research activities target commercially important stocks such as herring, sprat, cod, Norway lobster, turbot, salmon, trout, eel, perch and crayfish.


Resources Management Dept.

● regulating Swedish fisheries within the framework of the EU Common Fisheries Policy

● regulating coastal and freshwater fisheries

● regulating the fishing fleet and issuing licences to professional fishermen

● financial support to the fishing industry, fish processing and aquaculture

● fisheries management and environmental protection in developing countries

● trade and socio-economic research studies

● supporting recreational fisheries

● developing a consumer perspective


Fisheries Control Dept.Responsibility to ensure:

● that the fishing opportunities allocated to Sweden (quotas and effort) are not over-utilized

● that fishing and the fish trade accords with regulations

● that there is access to fishing information, including official fishing statistics.

● the control co-operation with the Swedish Coast Guard including a joint fisheries competence centre as a Single Access Point for the fisheries industry


The Swedish fishing fleetFishermen with a professional fishing license:

marine and coastal waters 1645

inland water 191

Licensed fishing vessels: 1478

vessel < 12 metres 1202

vessel >12 metres 276


Three main segments● pelagic trawlers:

the Atlantic, the North Sea, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat, the Baltic Sea.target species: herring, sprat

● demersal trawlers:the Skagerrak and the Kattegat, the North Sea, the Baltic Seatarget species: cod, shrimp, nephrops, saithe, haddock

● vessels with passive gear:the Skagerrak and the Kattegat, the Baltic Seatarget species: salmon, turbot, herring, eel, cod, nephrops, lobster


Aquaculture● total fish for consumption including shellfish 8 550 for a

value of 205 million SEK

● major species are rainbow trout, arctic char, mussels, eel

● breeding programme for arctic char


Recreational fishing● 1 million persons between 16 - 64, 2006

● 14 millions fishing days 2006, angling dominates

● volume appr. 1,8 billion:

● a total catch of 18 000 tons (50% from freshwater) perch, pike, trout and mackerel, most important for sportfishing

crawfish, herring, whitefish and flatfish, most important for household fishery

● Recreational related business, 1 300 in field survey positive future prospects, 6 500 employees, 700 at a regular

yearly base


Important resource issues

● to follow scientific recommendations through ICES

● to implement the ecosystem approach

● threatened species (e.g. eel)

● marine protected area

● non-fishing areas


Important industry issues

● over-capacity in fishing fleet

● measures in three areas:- new pelagic system- new regulation of the cod fishery in the Baltic Sea- coastal fishery

● new initiatives in aquaculture

● investment in fishing tourism

● extended fishery control

Documents

The Swedish fisheries administration – an overview Maria Hellsten, head of executive staff unit