SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

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: 19 September 2024, 15:42

» Published: 18 August 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

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly
2 MIN READ

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly

Resignation Demand on Demirok: "Weak Leadership"
3 MIN READ

Resignation Demand on Demirok: "Weak Leadership"

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note
1 MIN READ

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice
1 MIN READ

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"
2 MIN READ

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö
1 MIN READ

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms
1 MIN READ

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant
1 MIN READ

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"
1 MIN READ

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable
1 MIN READ

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.
3 MIN READ

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship
1 MIN READ

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship

Man arrested for new sex crimes against children
1 MIN READ

Man arrested for new sex crimes against children

Five detained after explosion on Östermalm
1 MIN READ

Five detained after explosion on Östermalm

Further No to Offshore Wind Power
1 MIN READ

Further No to Offshore Wind Power

Investigation launched after report against Dumpen
1 MIN READ

Investigation launched after report against Dumpen

Proposal for Climate Agreement Slammed: Unacceptable
2 MIN READ

Proposal for Climate Agreement Slammed: Unacceptable

Four out of ten houses have deficiencies in fire protection.
1 MIN READ

Four out of ten houses have deficiencies in fire protection.

Snow and strong winds – many households without power
2 MIN READ

Snow and strong winds – many households without power