How are fish populations faring in our coasts, seas, lakes, and rivers? At SLU Aqua, environmental analysis is central to our work, helping us understand the health and development of both fish and their environments.
Our mission is to collect, analyze, and provide long-term data, along with quality-assured knowledge bases, to support environmental management and the sustainable use of natural resources. We focus on species or stocks that are fished in one way or another.
We study the role of fish in ecosystems, including stock and ecosystem analyses. We also investigate the impact of human activities and environmental factors on fish communities in seas, lakes, and waterways. Our experts conduct age determination and genetic analyses of fish and shellfish in our laboratories.
Our environmental analysis work covers a vast geographical area. The Swedish coastline stretches approximately 2,400 kilometers from Haparanda to Strömstad, and the total water volume of the Baltic Sea is about 21,000 cubic kilometers. This presents both a vast area and an immense volume of water from which we collect data.
Our environmental analysis work mainly focuses on advising about commercial and international fish stocks. We carry out this work on behalf of the Swedish Marine and Water Management Agency, guided by a series of EU regulations known as the DCF (Data Collection Framework). The DCF is funded 60% by the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFF).
Our environmental analysis work is conducted within the framework of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), the EU Commission's expert groups within the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC), as well as through collaboration with both international and national research programs.
Lena Bergström, Researcher
Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Coastal Research, SLU
lena.bergstrom@slu.se, +46 10 478 41 16
Sara Bergek, temporary Head of Department
Department of Aquatic Resources, SLU
sara.bergek@slu.se, +46 10 478 41 14