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2017-01-30

New project investigates the growth of cod and flatfish in the Baltic Sea

For a long time, fishermen in the Baltic Sea have been affected by negative developments in the Sea. In recent times, both the growth and the condition of cod have deteriorated. What are the risks of diminishing fish growth and how have the growthpatterns of various fish species looked like over time?

BalticSea2020 has, through financial support from the Foundation Thursús forskarhem, made possible a new project that aims to explore and chart the development pattern of flatfish and cod in the Baltic Sea, over a hundred years. A longer time series for example, growth and size structures can provide a clearer picture of the fishermen's development and what causes change.

Read more about the project here.

The project is led by researcher Henrik Svedäng, of the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre and the Swedish Institute for Marine Research at the University of Gothenburg, and runs until December 2018.

Our focus areas

fisheryThe stock of predatory fish is crucial for the state of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the Foundation worked to ensure that the environmental effects of fishing should be a central part of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. The Foundation also worked on projects to increase the proportion of predatory fish, such as cod, pike and perch. Read more

eutroEutrophication is caused by emissions of nutrients that come from e.g. agriculture, water treatment plants, sewage and transportation. To find measures that could reduce emissions the Foundation worked on projects in agriculture, industrial animal farms and the coastal zone, to research on measures to catch or bind nutrients. Read more

seagull-informationTo create awareness about the threats and opportunities the Baltic Sea is facing, the Foundation initiated a 10-year media and film project with journalist Folke Rydén and photographer Mattias Klum. The Foundation has also supported Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre (Baltic Eye), and Baltic Sea Science Center at Skansen. Read more