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 oportunities and great initiatives around sustainability.
The rowing race – Sillarodden – at Ronneby Harbour to promote the small-scale fishing and food heritage
The ”Sillarodden” Ronneby Harbour Festival is an annual event organised and initiated by Ronneby Harbour Association. In 1987, when Ronneby celebrated its 600th anniversary, the rowing race “Sillarodden” was arranged for the first time. 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 every year so far.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 who want to strike a blow for Swedish professional fishing and entrepreneurship today. “Sillarodden” which is is only 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. The harbor party itself starts at 10 a.m. Fish of various kinds is served while being entertained by Marcus Schönbeck and the Spelmanspojkarna. It can be mentioned that over the years the Coast Guard, the Research vessel Argos, the Sea Rescue Society SSRS, the Rescue Helicopter, the Marine Research Laboratory in Karlskrona, local craftsmen etc. participated to show their activities, 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. 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.
On June the 15th, 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 3 kilometers to Ronneby Torg, and there sell the night’s catch to keen speculators. Of course, you sailed as far as possible, usually you got to row the last bit. The boat team that arrived first also had to sell their herring, and at the best price.
Nowadays
Nowadays, the competitors row through the with boats in peasant style. In addi with herring in the cargo to be sold at Ronneby Torg. The one who has sold his herring first wins. Since 1999, the event has been co-organized by Ronneby Fiskhamnsförening and Ronneby Municipality.
Sillarodden is an event primarily for Ronneby residents, but which has also come to attract more and more people outside the municipality’s borders. The harbour party on the day draws an estimated 3,000 visitors.
Projects and collaborations for sustainable fisheries
Bengt Larsson and Glenn Fridh, the profiles involved in the Fiskhamnsföreningen and the county’s active professional fishermen, hope that Sillarodden can continue even when the current agreement expires. For the last three years the Ronneby Municipality financed Sillarodden.
Through a long-term cooperation agreement with Ronneby Municipality, there is the possibility that Sillarodden can be an attraction for the public and contributes to the tourism industry.
We also want to attract foreign visitors to this unique event.
Other collaborations
The 2024 harbour festival is also happy to work with the Marine Center in Simrishamn and SLU Aqua. There organizations will inform about Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus), a so-called resource fish.
ARK56 strongly supports the event. It is an association of companies at the coast of Blekinge and within the Blekinge UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is why, ARK56 will also be present and infor about ongoing sustainability projects like clam farms at Eriksberg.
In the Boat Shop there will be lectures and presentations. In addition, there will be a debate on the role of herring as food and cultural carrier.
Looking for ideas to explore Blekinge Biosphere Reserve and archipelago
- Here come some hints:
– boat cruising – sightseeing boats go every day from Karlskrona and Ronneby
– eat a freshly fried or smoked fish in the harbour of Ronneby, Karlshamn or Sölvesborg
– contact Cross Baltica for an organized tour in the archipelago and visit to the local companies
Useful links: - Cross Baltica
- Eriksberg
- a guided fo
- A guided fishing tour in Dragsö Camping ‘
- Ark56
- GoNatureMarket
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.
The offer:
We start the day in the Karlskrona Harbour with a 2,5 h long trip in the Eastern Archipelago. Firstly you will board tour ship with both open deck and an inside lounge. In continuation, you can enjoy a Swedish Fika on the boat. Purchase coffee, fika and drinks. We finish the tour at the Dragsö Camping and enjoy a locally d lunch. After lunch there is time to test water bikes and pedal boats and to enjoy sauna and spa raft. In the meantime you will enjoy a tray with local specialities.We end the day at Dragsö restaurant.
The package from 2490:-/ person includes: guidad tour with a local guide in archipelago with a coffee break, local lunch at Dragsö camping restaurant, water activities and sauna & spa raft, tray with local specialities/ beer, dinner at Dragsö camping restaurant. Not included: drinks at lunch and dinner.
Minimum 8 persons.
