seal and cormorant

Most of the fishermen we interviewed expressed great gratitude for the opportunity to share how things are going for them. Finally, there is someone who wants to listen to what they have to say.

Baltic Sea Seal and Cormorant TNC Project was a transnational cooperation project that engaged 14 leader areas in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Germany. The purpose was to highlight how small-scale fishing in the Baltic Sea is affected by seals and cormorants. The consumption of fish by these animals is sometimes greater than the catches of fishermen, which negatively impacts fish stocks and biodiversity.

The project began with extensive information gathering, where, among other things, research reports were reviewed and calculations for economic losses for individual professional fishermen were examined. The project's activities also included meetings between relevant stakeholders, fishermen, researchers, participating leader areas, and more.

A total of 240 interviews were conducted with professional fishermen throughout the project's implementation area, which were evaluated, compiled, and revised into a report by the Finnish Natural Resources Institute LUKE. The pandemic complicated the project's conclusion, but ultimately a seminar was held in Brussels, which could also be attended digitally.

The Swedish leader areas then supplemented with a Swedish report that was followed by a digital final seminar for the presentation and dissemination of the report.

The project resulted in two reports. The first is ”The impacts of seals and cormorants experienced by Baltic Sea commercial fishers,” a product of the joint, transnational part of the project. The report gathers facts and provides a detailed account of the interviews conducted with professional fishermen from all participating countries and is the most comprehensive study conducted on the impact of seals and cormorants on fishing in the Baltic Sea region. The second is ”Seals, cormorants, and small-scale fishing in the Baltic Sea,” a product of the deepened Swedish cooperation. The report provides a broad background on seals and cormorants, delves into the current situation, presents interviews with professional fishermen in the Swedish leader areas, and offers action proposals for the future. Both reports can be summarized with the conclusion: It is clear that broad cooperation is required to move forward, both regionally and internationally and between different sectors.

The project also resulted in two seminars. The concluding seminar in Brussels targeted decision-makers such as EU parliamentarians, the EU Commission, DG Mare, DG Enviro, national, regional, and local officials and politicians, as well as stakeholders such as professional fishermen and environmental organizations, that is, the actors needed to advance the issue. The Swedish seminar concluded with a panel debate featuring researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), representatives from the Swedish Fishermen's Producer Organization (SFPO), and leader areas in Sweden, as well as the author of the Swedish report.

The project also created an active network around these issues, throughout the Baltic Sea area but also in Sweden.

Read the reports by clicking on the images below.