Meny
The Swedish Pelagic Federation producer organization (SPF) represents the Swedish pelagic fishery after e.g. herring, sprat, sandeel and mackerel in the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea, Kattegatt, Skagerrak, the North Sea and the Atlantic. Our members fish with vessels from 5-65 meters pelagic trawls, purse seines, hooks and nets. Our members account for approx. 90% of the annual total fished volume in Sweden. We thank you for the opportunity to participate in this consultation.
The planned wind farm Baltic East in Poland’s exclusive economic zone can potentially have a negative effect on fish stocks caught by Swedish fishermen through underwater noise, vibrations, changing currents or electromagnetic fields around cables. The present knowledge about these influencing factors and their effect on the underwater fauna is severely lacking. SPF therefore considers that it is of utmost importance that these factors and their cumulative effects on fish and other underwater fauna are carefully investigated in the forthcoming Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Possible negative effects from a wind farm on fish spawning, foraging for food, migration etc. may pose serious consequences in the long term for our members, if important fish stocks are affected negatively.
SPF believes that Sweden should participate in the continued progress of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It is essential that the possible effects of the planned wind farm on fish stocks in the Baltic Sea are carefully investigated and that the cumulative effects of this and other planned and existing wind farms in the Baltic Sea are taken into account in the analysis.
The EIA should describe the expected effects on the fish stocks and fishery during both construction and continuous operation and decommissioning of the wind farm.
Best regards,
Annelie Rosell
Swedish Pelagic Federation PO
