EU request for assessing remedial measures in subdivisions 29N and 30 to protect the Atlantic salmon stock from the Ljungan river in Sweden

ICES advises that three (measures 2, 3, and 4) out of the four individual management measures evaluated could have a low to medium/high potential to reduce the fishing mortality of the currently weak wild Atlantic salmon stock in the Swedish River Ljungan, in comparison to the measures applied in 2023. The fourth measure (1) was already in place in 2023 so there was no additional impact of this measure.

When compared to a scenario involving a fishing ban for Atlantic salmon in subdivisions (SDs) 22–30, as was previously advised by ICES for 2024, a continuation of fishing in SDs 29N–30 with the implementation of one or several of these measures in combination would result in a higher fishing mortality and reduced possibilities for recovery of the Atlantic salmon stock in the Ljungan river – and is thus not considered equivalent in terms of its effects.

When comparing the effect in the recovery of Atlantic salmon in the Ljungan river between a complete prohibition versus a fully allowed fishery, allowing a directed fishery will lead to higher fishing mortalities and reduce possibilities for recovery. The level of recovery will depend on total catches.