This year's seal hunt, starting Monday, permits shooting 1,350 grey seals, 200 harbour seals, and 200 ringed seals in the Baltic Sea, more than last year. The Swedish Nature Conservation Association protests the expanded quotas, arguing seals are not to blame for depleted fish stocks.
The seal hunt in the Baltic Sea begins on Monday with increased quotas: 1,350 grey seals, 200 harbour seals, and 200 ringed seals. This exceeds last year's numbers, as reported by Sydsvenskan. Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren (KD) aims to halve the seal population "as soon as possible," and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency describes the decisions as "well-balanced" to protect fishing gear, catches, and fish stocks.
The Swedish Nature Conservation Association disputes this, attributing the historically low fish stocks in the Baltic Sea to overfishing, eutrophication, and pollutants. "Historically we have had seal populations much larger than today and then we also had large stocks of herring and sprat. Seals are not the problem," says Ida Carlén, unit manager for seas, water, and aquaculture landscapes at the organization.
Carlén acknowledges seals may locally impact fishing in shallow bays but argues hunts should be targeted and smaller. She warns that hunts often occur farther out in the archipelago, potentially driving seals closer to coasts and escalating fisher conflicts. The group states there is no scientific evidence that hunting boosts fish stocks, while studies indicate long-term risks to seal populations.
The association also highlights seal hunting's challenges, typically from unsteady boats at moving targets. "Grey seals sink quickly when shot and only a small share is recovered, so it's unclear if they are dead or wounded," Carlén says.