The driftnet ban introduced on the 1st January 2008 in the Baltic Sea has paid off after only six months. More salmon have returned to the rivers and anglers have already begun reporting unusually large catches.
The upstream migration of salmon took place in the rivers around the Baltic Sea in June and sources report more salmon numbers present than there has been for a number of years.
"The ban has a very positive effect on the return of spawning salmon from the Baltic Sea into the rivers. It is likely that we are talking about 100,000 more salmon compared to last year," says Håkan Carlstrand, an expert from the Swedish national sportfishing organisation "Sportfiskarna" and a member of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA).
In previous years, around 300,000 salmon have been caught annually – around half of which caught by driftnetting. Swedish rivers could expect to see the return of an additional 50,000 to 100,000 salmon compared to past years numbers if the ban continues to work to its full potential.
Hakan Carlstrand went on to add: "80% of wild salmon in the Baltic Sea are from Swedish rivers. It is an extremely positive thing for Sweden as a tourism fishing nation that more salmon are allowed to return to the rivers in which they were born. Poland is still pushing for the driftnet ban to be abolished. But we hope the EU Commission stands firm on its decision."
Jan Kappel, EFTTA lobbyist said: “This is a true success story and long may it last. As part of our Lobby Action Plan, EFTTA had highlighted areas such as limiting all fishing with nets and making authorities aware when the EU driftnet ban is not followed in the Baltic Sea or in other countries. This continued lobbying is needed, as banned driftnetting continues illegally in places like the Mediterranean.
“The Baltic Sea ban has improved one of sportfishings’ most important fish stocks but the situation could easily be reversed just as quickly if proper control and enforcement do not continue. EFTTA will continue to monitor the fish stock situation in the Baltic Sea. This is just one example of how EFTTA’s lobbying can help safe guard the sport and the fishing tackle trade as a whole.”
