Fishing

There are only a few fishing ports left on Öland these days. Many years ago the baltic sea was a major income for many families around the island but fish prizes are low and bigger boats for catching more fish, are expensive. Fishing regulations has also made it more difficult to make a profit on fishing so many fishermen has been forced to stop their business. 

We visited Kårehamn, a small fishing village on the east coast of the island. Less then 25 fishermen and four-five boats remain here in the largest of the fishing ports on the island. One family has started a sea food restaurant and shop in the harbour and it has been a major success. Mostly during the tourist season of course but they keep the business open with reduced opening hours during the low season too. New businesses has popped up and the harbour has modernised their methods of taking care of the fishermen's catches, the restaurant together with renting out cottages to tourists and bird watchers, providing good service for many house-cars and caravans and the well visited guest harbour, Kårehamn is once more alive and well. When we arrived on this mild, windy day to get a coffee and some food, the restaurant was well visited serving excellent food. The people on this island don't give up easily. Generations of being poor and often oppressed by authorities has taught the people always to look for another solution.