Swedish minister pushes for lower Baltic Sea quotas, warns Sweden stands alone

In preparation for the upcoming Baltic Sea fishing quota talks, Sweden's rural affairs minister announced that the country will push for the lowest possible catch limits, focusing on the central and Bottniska streams to foster a strong rebound of damaged stocks. The EU Commission has put forward a modest rise in quotas for the central and eastern parts of the sea, referencing optimistic research on fish populations. Sweden, however, perceives itself as largely alone, as other Baltic states argue the Commission's proposal is too cautious and advocate for even larger increases.

The minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining small-scale, coastal herring fisheries using nets and traps in the western Baltic, seeking collaborative support from other nations. Finnish sport-fishing groups have recently urged their government to adjust quotas, a move the Swedish minister welcomed as evidence of broad stakeholder interest. Negotiations that have historically stretched into late night may conclude more quickly this time, with preliminary results expected by evening.