Kosterhavet – a new national park developed with sustainable tourism

Kosterhavets National Park’s importance lies in being Sweden’s most species-rich marine area and is centred around the Koster Islands on West Sweden’s Bohuslan coast, 45 minutes by boat from the town of Stromstad. Its opening marks the start of the annual Europarc Conference, held in Stromstad this year, where 500 members from 38 countries meet to discuss protected areas all over Europe.

A unique Swedish environment
The national park will cover an area of around 450 square kilometres, 390 of which are underneath the water surface. The Koster-Väderö Fjord is located within the park with 200 different species of animals and plants that can’t be found anywhere else in the country, including reefs of deep-water coral Lophelia Pertusa. The fjord’s seabed is a unique environment with both hard and soft seabeds at a depth of over 200 meters, along with shell sand bottoms, and shallow seabeds out towards Skagerrak. The Koster-Väderö Fjord is also connected to the Norwegian Trench, in turn connected to the Atlantic Ocean, with conditions in the trench that are almost oceanic. This means creatures that would normally be found on the continental slopes thrive here. The fjord is also an important breeding and nursery ground for fish and shellfish.

Sustainable fishing
Kosterhavets National Park has been carefully developed to enable the traditional fishing industry associated with the area to continue while minimising any damage to the environment. Kosterhavets is an important habitat for northern shrimp which supports the important prawn fishing business.

The Koster-Väderö Fjord is located within an area where trawling is not permitted but an exception is made for the century-old tradition of prawn trawling. However, under an agreement between fishermen and authorities, a new way of fishing for prawns, with less impact upon the environment than traditional methods, is being carried out. Under this system, rare creatures don’t run the same risk of being caught in the nets and scraping of the sea beds is reduced as trawl boards are smaller and lighter. Named the Koster-Väderö Model, it received Sweden’s top award for sustainable fishing in 2003. Every year, around 200 tons of prawns are caught by about 30 trawlers, most of which are less than twelve metres long.

Preserve, protect and develop
Some more rules have been set up to safeguard Kosterhavets National Park in the future. Besides the regulations for prawn fishing, it has been decided that professional fishing for lobster and crab must continue in the same careful way it is being carried out today. Aquaculture, such as the farming of sea mussels and oysters, is allowed as long as it doesn’t harm the environment. The tourist industry too will be monitored to ensure the area’s significant natural and cultural assets are protected.