Bärkraftigt räkfiske - Sustainable shrimp fishery in Skagerrak

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Shrimp fishery is the economically most important fishery in the Kattegat/Skagerrak region, with first hand sales at the level of roughly 500 mill SEK yearly. Skagerrak is the core area for the fishery, with activity extending also into northern Kattegat. The fishing fleet in Sweden and Norway consists of many small boats, while the Danish fleet uses larger vessels. The fishery is vital in creating the unique vivid culture and environment along the coastline surrounding Skagerrak and Kattegat. For many inhabitants of and tourists to this region, shrimps served in the harbor or in the back yard represent an unique cultural experience. Thus, shrimps have a socio-economic value that extends well beyond its direct economic value. A sustainable use of this important resource depends on knowledge-based cooperation among the countries in the KASK region. Today, knowledge remains scattered and is partly lacking. In particular, we presently do not know if there is a single or several shrimp populations inhabiting the Skagerrak and Kattegat. Such knowledge is vital for management, as separate populations are demographically disconnected and need to be managed separately. For example, overfishing in one part of the region may deplete a local population, which then will depend on rescue from neighboring ones in other parts of the region.

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