To Be or Not to Be: Shakespeare's Hamlet and Småland's Sustainable Fish Farming

In Shakespeare's famous drama, the main character is the Scandinavian prince Hamlet. His father, the king, is murdered by his uncle, prompting Hamlet to reflect on the profound question, "To be or not to be (death)." Ultimately, after a series of intrigues, nearly every character in the play meets their demise.

Published 2022-02-02

Unfortunately, this tragic fate is similar to that of many of Sweden's and the world's fish. Around 200,000 tonnes of fish are killed every year solely through Swedish commercial fishing, equating to several billion individual fish. Unlike Hamlet, these fish do not have the luxury of contemplating their fate; it just befalls them without question.

In stark contrast, Arctic Roe of Scandinavia AB, located in Strömsnäsbruk, Småland, stands as Sweden's leading delicacy fish farm, known for producing the world's most exclusive foods, such as sturgeon and black caviar. The business model of this niche company is rooted in sustainability, local production, and prioritizing the well-being of both the fish and the consumers. But how do they achieve this?

At Arctic Roe, no fish are killed. Instead, the black roe grains are carefully milked from each fish every two years, allowing the fish to live in peace for a decade or more. The sturgeon females do not reside in natural rivers or lakes but are housed indoors in large tanks on the third floor of an old paper mill. This innovative business model emphasizes sustainability, thorough oversight, individual follow-up, and a minimal environmental footprint.

The process is labor-intensive. Each female fish is monitored over time and fitted with a chip, read by a device the size of a traditional matchbox. An ultrasound device, similar to those used in maternity wards, tracks the maturation of the roe within the fish.

A few months before the harvest, or "milking," the selected female fish are placed in pools with cold water, maintained at 8-10 degrees Celsius, simulating natural winter conditions. This environment calms the fish and reduces their fat intake, cleansing them of excess fat, which could otherwise interfere with the milking process. The cold water also enhances the cleanliness and flavor of the roe.

When the time for milking arrives, the water temperature is gradually increased, making the fish more active and facilitating the milking process without harming them. This careful management and substantial investment of resources per fish mean that, over a decade, a female fish can produce a total caviar harvest equivalent to its own weight at the time of the first harvest. In contrast, slaughtering the fish yields only a one-time harvest, which is about 10% of the fish's weight as caviar.

Arctic Roe's sustainable business concept, in a nutshell, is to manufacture the world's most exclusive food products in line with the world's most stringent regulations—those of Sweden.

This story is not a tragedy akin to Shakespeare's Hamlet. While Hamlet pondered existential questions, Arctic Roe takes a clear stand: life continues unabated. At Arctic Roe, the focus is on sustainable practices ensuring that life always goes on.