Fine prospects for this year's crayfishing

Crab enthusiasts can sleep soundly. Early reports suggest it will be a good year for crab fishing – although somewhat delayed. I haven't received any alarm reports lately. Now it's just a matter of catching crabs and eating, says crab expert Patrik Bohman.

» Updated: September 19 2024

» Published: August 18 2024

Fine prospects for this year's crayfishing
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Patrik Bohman, environmental analyst at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), says that crayfishing has generally become somewhat delayed this year - but that the season is now underway and fishermen are getting crayfish in their traps.

It looks good, at least according to the reports I've received, he says.

The delay is partly due to weather conditions. In some parts of the country, the water level has been high, which has led to smaller catches.

But when it stabilizes, it usually becomes good fishing, says Bohman.

Small crayfish

In southern and central Sweden, on the other hand, very many crayfish have been caught that are too small - under ten centimeters, which should not be taken up. The problem concerns the signal crayfish, our invasive crayfish species, clarifies Bohman.

In Lake Vättern, there are very many crayfish, but we have a problem, and that is small crayfish. Relatively, we get up a lot of crayfish, but most of what we get up is below the minimum size.

This is a problem that has existed for several years and must be addressed, emphasizes Bohman. He believes that a large project is needed where SLU collaborates with the county administration and professional fishermen to find out why growth is not as large as it should be.

High competition

Despite the small crayfish, the summer has been good, and the catches are good, says Bohman.

It's warm temperature and a lot to eat for the crayfish. But you can imagine that in Lake Vättern, for example, when there are very many crayfish, the competition becomes high, and that means that not all crayfish will be able to grow because they don't have enough to eat.

There is thus no shortage of signal crayfish, but as for the "native" freshwater crayfish, it continues to decrease, according to Bohman.

In Sweden, there are two species of freshwater crayfish: the original freshwater crayfish and the introduced signal crayfish.

The signal crayfish is mainly found in southern and central Sweden, roughly up to the Dalälven River where the freshwater crayfish takes over. Some illegal releases of signal crayfish also exist further north, but these rarely take hold in any larger extent.

Lake Vättern is the only lake in Sweden where it is permitted for the general public to fish crayfish in public waters without special permission during limited periods.

In Sweden, approximately 2,500 tons of crayfish are fished every year, but to cover Swedes' needs, approximately the same amount needs to be imported. The imported crayfish come from, among other places, Spain, Turkey, and China.

Source: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One
1 MIN READ

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One Person Detained

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Arrested

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces
1 MIN READ

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces Charges in Pension Fund Bribery Case

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower
2 MIN READ

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Critics Challenge Proposal to End
3 MIN READ

Critics Challenge Proposal to End Summer Grazing for Swedish Dairy Cows

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery Purchases Supporting Parties

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång Fire Investigated as Suspected Murder

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids
1 MIN READ

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids and Hazardous Substances

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact from US Tariffs, Government Warns

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges for House Fire in Norway

Man Charged in Fatal Lund
1 MIN READ

Man Charged in Fatal Lund Knife Attack Linked to Drug Deal

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by
1 MIN READ

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by 30 Percent in 2024, Young Riders Most Affected

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for
1 MIN READ

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for Embezzling Millions from Municipalities

Teen Faces Court in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Teen Faces Court in Sweden for Alleged Sect-Linked Knife Attack

Elderly Man Critically Injured in
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Critically Injured in Kävlinge Villa Fire

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief
1 MIN READ

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief Anna Saleem Högberg

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at Migration Detention Centers

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to
1 MIN READ

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to Close Following Riksdag Decision

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Parents in Sweden Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Parents in Sweden Jailed for Locking Children in Basement

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder
1 MIN READ

75-Year-Old Woman Cleared of Murder Charges in Ale

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See
1 MIN READ

Bribery Convictions in Sweden See Rise in Gross Offenses

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Suspect Detained in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500
1 MIN READ

Sabotage Cuts Power to 500 Homes in Småland, Police Investigate

Twelve Indicted in Major Scania
1 MIN READ

Twelve Indicted in Major Scania Drug Network Bust

Sun-Seeking App Trend Raises Skin
2 MIN READ

Sun-Seeking App Trend Raises Skin Cancer Concerns in Sweden

Sweden Braces for Year's Warmest
1 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Year's Warmest Day Before Cold Snap Hits

Online Sect's Influence on Teen
4 MIN READ

Online Sect's Influence on Teen Knife Attacks Faces Court Scrutiny

Swedish Man Sentenced to 10
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Long-Term Abuse of Relative

Man Critically Injured in Sollefteå
1 MIN READ

Man Critically Injured in Sollefteå Workplace Accident

Child Seriously Injured After Fall
1 MIN READ

Child Seriously Injured After Fall from Window in Stockholm

Sweden's Spring Covid Vaccine Campaign
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Spring Covid Vaccine Campaign Focuses on High-Risk Groups

Stockholm Police Launch Pilot to
2 MIN READ

Stockholm Police Launch Pilot to Curb Violence Against Women

Anna-Karin Hatt Declines Centre Party
1 MIN READ

Anna-Karin Hatt Declines Centre Party Leadership Role

Expert Group to Guide Västra
1 MIN READ

Expert Group to Guide Västra Götaland After Millennium System Setback

Kristersson Calls for Doubling Sweden's
3 MIN READ

Kristersson Calls for Doubling Sweden's Conscription Numbers

Woman in Her 60s Killed
1 MIN READ

Woman in Her 60s Killed in Collision with Truck Near Kristianstad

Three Men Charged in Assault
1 MIN READ

Three Men Charged in Assault and Rape Case in Kristianstad

Sweden Proposes Stricter Housing Rules
3 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Stricter Housing Rules for New Immigrants