Fishing & Aquaculture

When starting an aquaculture facility that requires approval under animal health legislation, you must prepare a biosecurity plan (biosäkerhetsplan). The plan must document the specific risks of disease transmission into, within, and out of your facility, covering routines, premises, equipment, and water systems.The biosecurity plan is a mandatory part of the approval process and must be submitted to the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket). It should address how you prevent introduction of disease, manage movement of fish and equipment between zones, and handle waste water. Jordbruksverket provides templates and guidance for different types of aquaculture facilities.

Issued by: Swedish Board of Agriculture

Operators involved in trade of fish covered by the EU Common Fisheries Policy must be registered with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (Havs- och vattenmyndigheten). This includes first buyers of fish, transporters, traceability operators, importers, and agents handling fishery and aquaculture products.The registration requirement ensures traceability and control of fishery products from catch to consumer in accordance with EU legislation. You must register before starting operations, and any changes to your business must be reported. Havs- och vattenmyndigheten exercises supervision over registered operators and can withdraw registration for non-compliance.

Issued by: Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management

To farm fish, crustaceans, or mollusks in Sweden, you need an aquaculture permit under the Fisheries Act (1993:787). The permit is issued by the County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) in the county where the farming will take place, and must be granted before operations begin.The application is assessed against criteria for environmental impact, animal health, and sustainable production. Depending on the scale and location of your facility, you may also need environmental permits under the Environmental Code and approval from Jordbruksverket for animal health. The aquaculture permit specifies conditions for species, volumes, and operating practices.

Issued by: County Administrative Board

If you intend to release fish, molluscs or crustaceans, you must have a permit from the County Administrative Board. The person who will release the fish must apply for the permit from the County Administrative Board in the county where the fish will be released.You do not need a permit when transferring fish or shellfish to your facility from another facility or from natural waters. However, it is prohibited to transfer fish from coastal areas to inland areas due to the risk of spreading diseases present along the coast but not inland.

Issued by: County Administrative Board