Sweden Socio-economic Profile


1 Sweden : SV1
1.1 Overview

The area defined as Sweden SV1 covers the whole country. In 1998, the Swedish fleet comprised of some 2,200 vessels with a total capacity of 47,000 GRT and 243,000kW.  60% (by tonnage) of the fleet was located in the West coast area of West Goetland.  A large part of this West Coast fleet fish in the Baltic and in third country waters.   The smaller coastal fishing vessels target eel and nephrops.

In 1997 the Swedish catch amounted to 351,000 tonnes valued at 115,591,301 ECU.  A large part of this catch originated from the Baltic sea.  In terms of value cod was the most important species with 30,000 tonnes valued at 35,833,303 ECU being caught in 1997. Catches of fish targeted for reduction to fishmeal and oil, mostly Baltic herring and sprat, amounted to 260,000 tonnes valued at 24,852,129 ECU. Other species targeted were herring for human consumption, nephrops and eel.  Almost 50% of the Swedish total were landed abroad, mostly in Denmark. Additionally almost a quarter of landings in Sweden were exported.

No Swedish vessel has the onboard facilities to process fish catches.   There were 160 processing plants in Sweden in 1997 mainly processing cod and herring. The Swedish processing industry imports 55% of raw materials used.  Total production value in 1997 was 346,773,904 ECU, 40% of products are exported.

1.2 Coastal Fishing Employment

There are 2,648  commercial fishers in Sweden,  most of these fishers are located  on the West coast area, nearly 40%, but there are some agglomerations in the NUTS 3 areas of Skaane and Blekinge in the Baltic area.  Most of these fishers are men with a  median age of 43 years.

1.3 Processing Employment

The processing sector in Sweden employs 1,933 persons. In terms of numbers the most important NUTS 3 area is Goeteborg and Bohus with 1,462 persons employed.  Other regions in Sweden such as Blekinge have 181 processing persons employed whilst Gotland has 79. Women make up 51.6% of the persons employed. There is a seasonal peak in employment before the festive seasons for the processing of the traditional Swedish Herring

1.4 Vessel Construction and Repair Employment

There are 1,500 landing ports along the Swedish Coast which are  well equipped for repairs.  The larger vessels normally use Danish shipyards for their repairs.

1.5 Marine Aquaculture Employment

Aquaculture on the West coast is dominated by blue mussel production,  whilst the on the Baltic coast where the water are less saline there is cage farming of Rainbow Trout.  The total number of persons employed in aquaculture amounts to 394.

1.6 Inland Aquaculture Employment

There are 400 persons involved in inland aquaculture, mostly in the production of  rainbow trout, there is also some eel farming connected to the industrial surplus of warm water.

1.7 Inland Fishing Employment

There are about 250 commercial fishers in Sweden.  Most of the commercial fishing takes place on the four Great Lakes.  The main species caught are pike, perch, vendace (whitefish ), eel and crayfish.