How much for the last cod?

Life on earth started in the oceans, and the oceans are of central importance for future life on earth. However, today pollution and over fishing cause massive impacts on the marine ecosystems.  Also our own Baltic Sea is seriously affected.

For several decades the fishery in the Baltic Sea have been too intensive and far from sustainable. Parts of the fishing industry and most of the leading politicians have denied the problems. The experts have been accused of exaggeration.  However, it is becoming more and more obvious to everyone that actions are urgently needed to save the cod population for future generations.

The main goals of the seminar:

• To explain the far reaching ecologic and economic consequences of today’s fishery.
  
  
• To discuss other ways to use the fish – for example as a resource for recreational fishery and tourism.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM:

The moderator of the seminar is Ulf Wickbom.

1. Opening of the seminar, Ulf Wickbom
Ulf Wickbom describes the background of the seminar and overall
objective.

2. The Swedish fishery and ecologic results, Sture Hansson,
Professor at Stockholm University
Sture Hansson describes how the fishing on certain attractive species leads to a shift in the entire oceans ecosystem.

3. Tragedy of the commons - Who owns the fish?", Isabella Lövin
Isabella Lövin, author to the book “Tyst Hav” (Silent Sea), for which
she won several awards, gives her picture of the depletion of fish stocks due to fishing.

4. Key Presentation - The Economy in the Swedish Baltic Sea
fishery, Anton Paulrud, SLU
Dr Anton Paulrud describes new calculations for the costs and benefit
to the society by the present fishery policy. The resluts of the will be compiled in a report which will be available on the webpage.

5. Short comments on the three lectures:
• Lars Hultkranz – Professor in economy at Örebro University
• Björn Carlson – Chairman of the Björn Carlson’s Baltic Sea
foundation 2020
• Pasi Rine – Chairman of the Gaia organization
• Olof Linden – Professor in coastal zone management at
Kalmar University

6. Debate with contributions from present representants from
the political parties and other participants such as Jan-Olof Larsson (S), Karin Svenson-Smith (Mp), Sven Gunnar Persson (Kd), Sverker Thorén (Fp).

7. Summary by Ulf Wickbom

8. Refreshments in the garden