Swedish shrimp, a beloved staple in Sweden, faces a challenging future as it loses its MSC environmental certification.

The certification loss, effective April 24, stems from concerns over declining shrimp populations in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Kattegat, indicating unsustainable fishing practices.

Local fishermen, like Jonas Klingander, argue the shrimp stock is as robust as ever, fearing significant market impacts if major chains refuse non-MSC certified shrimp.

The future remains uncertain, with the next population assessment in June 2024 potentially restoring the certification.

This development follows EU and Norway-negotiated regulations to halve shrimp fishing in the area, reflecting concerns over a 20% population decrease from 2010 to 2020.