Long-term feeding ecology of harbour seals
Following successful conservation efforts, harbour seals in the Skagerrak have recovered from record low levels in the 1970s. This research project analyses more than 2,000 diet samples collected over the past two decades to improve understanding of the seals’ ecological role and to support sustainable, ecosystem-based management.
Moved Trawling Boundary in the Baltic Sea – Scientific Follow-up
The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM), on behalf of the Swedish Government, is carrying out an scientific project involving a relocated trawling boundary in the Baltic Sea. The aim is to examine the effects on herring (Clupea harengus) stocks.
No-fishing areas
In no-fishing areas, fishing is not permitted, thereby protecting species and their habitats. At the Department of Aquatic Resources, we monitor the development of Sweden's no-fishing areas and provide recommendations on how they can be best designed.
Bycatch of protected species in fisheries
Bycatch – the unintentional capture of non-target species, remains a major threat to many protected, endangered, and threatened species such as seabirds, marine mammals, and sharks.
Marine extreme weather
Heatwaves in the sea can affect fish and other organisms, and extreme storms can reduce fishing opportunities. In this project, researchers are studying the effects of heatwaves on fish and food webs through models and experiments.
FishLinks
In the FishLinks project, researchers are investigating whether tourism in Tanzania contributes to unsustainable fishing pressure, and if so, in what way.
Research projects
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WIND4COCO - Wind farms in marine ecosystems
In the research project Wind4CoCo, we investigate the long-term effects of offshore wind farms on fish and biodiversity, and how renewable energy production can coexist with nature conservation and fisheries -
Food web assessment approaches
The project uses ecosystem models and integrated analyses to understand long-term changes in the Baltic Sea marine environment. -
Waterways for Marine Diversity
The Marine Waterways project studies fish populations and key spawning sites in Åland’s diverse coastal habitats, while also mapping recreational fishing in collaboration with the local community. The aim is to contribute to long-term sustainable fish stocks. -
Restaurering av kustfiskbestånd
Although most Swedish fish species are considered viable, overexploitation has led to depleted populations. The project maps priority species and habitats, their current status, and the restoration measures needed.
Research areas
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Algtox - Knowledge Center on Algal Toxins
We can expect toxic algal blooms to become more common as the climate changes. A better understanding of which toxins algae produce and under what circumstances this happens will therefore become increasingly important, and this we aim to investigate within Algtox. -
AquaGenomics: linking genes and genomes to population and ecosystem health in a changing world
We combine genomics and ecology to uncover evolutionary processes shaping aquatic life in a changing world. -
Fish in food-webs: ecology & evolution of aquatic communities
We link variation in body size and community composition to ecological and evolutionary dynamics in changing environments. In our research we combine dynamic models, experiments and analysis of long-term ecological data from lake, coast and open sea systems. -
Offshore renewable energy
Renewable energy is growing globally, including offshore wind. Key questions arise about impacts on marine life, fisheries, and other uses. The Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua) offers expert knowledge to support marine renewable energy development.
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Extreme winter weather killed brown trout eggs – but the populations recovered quickly
How long does it take for a species to recover from a disaster? A study from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) shows that trout populations can recover in just a few years after a winter when streams froze to the riverbed – even though an entire cohort was wiped out. -
A new European study paves the way for more reliable monitoring of crayfish and crayfish plague using eDNA
Crayfish plague and invasive species threaten freshwater crayfish across Europe. In a comprehensive study, researchers from 13 European countries show that eDNA can improve monitoring, but that the choice of method is crucial for how reliable the results are. -
The presence of grey seals affects the chance of catching pike
Using recreational fishing and mark–recapture methods, researchers estimated how many pike live in a Baltic archipelago bay—2,449 individuals. When grey seals appeared, catches fell sharply, not because pike disappeared, but because their catchability declined. -
Current target for sustainable fishing involves unnecessarily high risks
A new study shows that the level currently used as a benchmark for maximum sustainable yield carries a higher risk of stock collapse than previously assumed. Almost the same long-term catches can be achieved with slightly lower fishing pressure, but with a significantly lower risk to the stocks.