Visit Blekinge Biosphere Reserve and archipelago on your South of Sweden trip! If you are looking for tradition, food heritage and a coastal life style this is the place to be.

Blekinge Archipelago is well preserved and not explored yet. In addition, it is a part of Blekinge UNESCO Biosphere Reserve to concentrate efforts on nature proection and responsible tourism.

The locals are passionate about their region and they will greet you with festivals, learning opportunities and great initiatives around sustainability.

My name is Iwona Slojka and I run the small tour operator Cross Baltica. ( link to text in Swedish).

We offer various services to groups, companies and organizations interested in unique travels and sustainability work. I am passionate about responsible travel and I love when I can contribute and work together with local communities and groups. Get to know the south of Sweden and join me and group of local and international friends for the the rowing race “sillrodden” in 2025. 

The rowing race – Sillarodden – at Ronneby Harbour to promote the small-scale fishing and food heritage

The Ronneby Harbour Festival is an annual event organised and initiated by Ronneby Harbour Association.  This is a cultural event that recalls a bygone era when the fishing population along the coast had to work hard for a living. The festival in the middle of June .The rowing race itself, “Sillarodden” – is for sure a unique event that is the essential part of the festival.

The Sillarodden, a rowing competition,  has developed to have become a concept in terms of creative and cultural activities at the same time. The number of visiting fairies increases steadily every year.

By the way sill in Swedish is herring so it is a rowing event in honor of the herring, an important fish for both staple and trade in the Baltic Sea region for centuries.

The Ronneby Harbour, an active harbour association organizes the event

Ronneby Fiskhamn Ekonomisk Förening is an association of the area’s professional fishermen. The aim is to  support Swedish professional fishing and entrepreneurship today. “Sillarodden” is is one of the activities they organize together with other local groups and association.

“We run the event as a harbor party, where the rowing is the highlight of today’s harbour party and starts at 2 p.m.”

”It shows, among other things, fishing gear from past and present, old boats, boat engines and vintage cars. In addition,  Fish of various kinds is served and musicians play locales tunes.

 There is also a small market where local craftsmen showcase their craft, which has been very much appreciated by the audience.” – says Bengt Larsson, the chairman.In that way it is all about sustainability, food heritage and tradition!

Working with sustainability for over 30 years

For over thirty years, Bengt Larsson and his colleague Glenn Fridh have worked to ensure that small-scale fishing develops and survives.

“On the Harbour festival , we can experience a day that is about sustainability, culture and traditions that are disappearing. Come and taste genuine, local fish!

Background and the main feature of the Sillarodden

History

It was often the women who had to take over the boat and catch in the early mornings after the men had been out all night fishing for herring. The herring was fished with commoner-style open boats, mostly bleachers. The women’s task was now to get from the archipelago up via Ronnebyån about three kilometers to Ronneby Torg. as follows, they sell the night’s catch at the market.

Nowadays

In 1987, when Ronneby celebrated its 600th anniversary, the rowing race “Sillarodden” was arranged for the first time. Nowadays, the competitors row through the with boats in peasant style. The participants sell the  herring catch at Ronneby Torg. In short, the winning team is the one that sell their herring, and at the best price.

Since 1999,  Ronneby Fiskhamnsförening and Ronneby Municipality organize the event.

Sillarodden is an event primarily for Ronneby residents. However,  today it also attract people outside the municipality’s borders. The harbour party on the day draws an estimated 3,000 visitors.

A day in Blekinge Archipelago- a Cross Baltica product

Spend a day at Blekinge Archipelago, a part of Blekinge UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. See genuine islands and meet the inhabitants that use boats all year round. Taste the local fish and locally produced beer. Visit magic cultural sites and stunning nature

The offer for 2025:

More reading on the event “Sillarodden”

• Bengt Larsson and Glenn Fridh are local profiles. They are part of  the Fiskhamnsföreningen and are  active professional fishermen.Their commitment and drive have resulted in strategies and tools for the future, both for themselves and for fishermen around the entire Baltic Sea. Most small-scale fishermen who are still active in Sweden today have adapted and rearranged their fishing more than once. Changed availability of fish, changing regulations and fierce competition from large-scale fishing and species such as seals and cormorants are just some of the challenges.
• For the last three years, the Ronneby Municipality is one of the financial supporters of Sillarodden.
• ARK56 strongly supports the event. It is an association of companies at the coast of Blekinge and within the Blekinge UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• During the festival you can listen to lectures and presentations.
•  In addition, and over the years the Coast Guard and different Rescue teams participated