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Massive Swedish criticism of the EU’s fishing decision: “Death blow”

by AI | 23.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson regrets the EU decision on increased herring fishing in the Baltic Sea. He is supported by both parts of the opposition and Swedish MEPs.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Photo: Mikaela Landeström/TT

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Stockholm – The herring quotas will be increased for next year in both the central Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, Bothnian Bay, and the Gulf of Riga. The sprat quota is indeed being reduced – but not as much as the EU Commission had proposed.

Everything is now decided by the EU countries’ fisheries ministers.

“We are very concerned, there is a very apparent risk of overfishing,” says Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Sweden’s stance was that herring fishing in the central Baltic Sea should decrease compared to what the EU Commission had proposed. That will not happen. Instead, the quotas are being doubled.

Kristersson, who represents the Moderate Party, regrets that Sweden has not gained support among the other EU countries.

The opposition is deeply critical. The Center Party calls the decision a “death sentence for the Baltic Sea” and the Green Party describes it as “the sea is collapsing”.

“We are also very concerned, there is a very apparent risk of overfishing. It is a classic problem when many countries protect their own interests without considering the common good,” says Ulf Kristersson.

The Nature Conservation Association is also critical and calls the decision “a death blow for herring and sprat”.

The criticism is also sharp from Swedish members in the EU Parliament.

(October 22)

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