Lake Vättern is Sweden’s second largest lake and faces multiple environmental challenges such as climate change, pollutants and invasive alien species. Since its foundation in 1957, the Lake Vättern Society of Water Conservation (LVSWC) has been a local actor aiming to manage a broad range of environmental issues concerning the lake and its catchment. Stakeholders can be members of LVSWC, which also organises a fisheries co-management group mainly dealing with fisheries issues. Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is a widely desired framework shaped to focus on ecosystems, involve stakeholders, and address environmental issues in an adaptive, integrated and holistic manner while also including societal aspects. We have investigated how the management of Lake Vättern relates to 15 central principles for EBFM. The study found that LVSWC and the fisheries co-management group work along and towards the EBFM principles in a locally adapted way. Several environmental improvements have been observed concurrently with LVSWC activity, such as increased water clarity, and a strengthened stock of the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Long-term commitment by European, national and regional authorities was seen as essential to maintain and improve EBFM functions for Lake Vättern, to ensure continuity in the work, rather than having to depend on short projects. Becasue literature examples of EBFM in lakes are scarce worldwide, this study provides a unique example of the pursuit of EBFM in lake ecosystem management.

韦特恩湖是瑞典的第二大湖，面临着气候变化、污染物和外来入侵物种等多重环境挑战。自 1957 年成立以来，Vättern 湖水保护协会 (LVSWC) 一直是当地的参与者，旨在管理与湖泊及其集水区相关的广泛环境问题。利益相关者可以是 LVSWC 的成员，该委员会还组织了一个渔业共同管理小组，主要处理渔业问题。基于生态系统的渔业管理 (EBFM) 是一个广受欢迎的框架，旨在关注生态系统、让利益相关者参与并以适应性、综合和整体的方式解决环境问题，同时还包括社会方面。我们调查了 Vättern 湖的管理如何与 EBFM 的 15 项核心原则相关联。研究发现 LVSWC 和渔业共同管理小组以适应当地情况的方式按照 EBFM 原则开展工作。在 LVSWC 活动的同时观察到了一些环境改善，例如水的透明度增加，以及北极红点鲑的数量增加（高山鼠尾草）。欧洲、国家和地区当局的长期承诺被认为对于维持和改善 Vättern 湖的 EBFM 功能至关重要，以确保工作的连续性，而不必依赖短期项目。由于湖泊中 EBFM 的文献实例在世界范围内很少见，本研究为在湖泊生态系统管理中追求 EBFM 提供了一个独特的例子。