Sweden is set to become the second EU country, following Greece, to ban bottom fishing in marine protected areas (MPAs). Sweden has committed to go one step further by banning bottom trawling in all its territorial waters. At a press conference, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his ministers announced the government’s intention to implement this ban.
Swedish Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari celebrated the announcement, emphasizing the protection of species like sturgeon, herring, and cod from industrial trawlers. This decision aligns with the European Commission’s 2023 call for phasing out bottom trawling in MPAs by 2030. Despite this, a survey by Oceana found that bottom trawling remains widespread in 90% of European MPAs.
Greece had previously announced its ban on bottom trawling at the ‘Our Ocean’ world conference in April, starting with national marine parks by 2026 and expanding to all MPAs by 2030. Sweden’s decision is particularly significant given its status as a major fishing power in Europe, with 127 trawlers engaged in bottom fishing in 11% of its 2,179 MPAs.
Credit: Rachel Claire
NGOs have welcomed Sweden’s move, seeing it as a step towards restoring marine life and supporting low-impact fisheries. The Swedish government hopes this ban will help recover fish stocks, including critically endangered Eastern Baltic cod and declining herring populations.
However, the commercial fishing industry, represented by the European Bottom Fisheries Alliance (EBFA), has criticized the ban. The EBFA argues that bottom trawling is a “perfectly regulated” practice and calls for an EU strategy that prioritizes innovation and sustainable practices over the elimination of regulated fishing activities.
Overall, Sweden’s ban on bottom trawling reflects growing efforts in Europe to combat overfishing and habitat destruction, aiming to protect marine ecosystems and ensure the recovery of fish stocks.