EU Commission Proposes Strict Fishing Regulations for Baltic Sea to Ensure Compliance
The European Commission has put forth new fishing quotas for the Baltic Sea, proposing significant restrictions for various fish species, while exempting herring from these cuts. This proposal was announced on Monday, August 26, and is set to be debated by EU ministers in October.
For 2025, the Commission has recommended a reduction in the total allowable catches (TACs) for salmon in the main basin of the Baltic Sea by 36%, and by 20% in the Gulf of Finland. Additionally, sprat catches are suggested to decrease by 42% across the region.
While targeted cod fishing has been prohibited since 2019, the Commission has called for dramatic reductions in unavoidable by-catch: a 73% decrease in the Western Baltic Sea, a 68% reduction in the Eastern Baltic, and a 50% cut in the Central Baltic.
Conversely, the proposal includes an increase in fishing opportunities for herring by 108% in the central Baltic Sea and a 10% increase in the Gulf of Riga, although the proposed quotas for herring in the Bothnia Gulf remain undisclosed.
Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the Commission, expressed concern over the declining fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, emphasizing the urgency for action to protect key commercial species.
These proposed restrictions reflect a growing crisis of overfishing in the Baltic Sea, a crucial marine area spanning 400,000 km² that borders nine countries from Denmark to Russia. Overfishing, particularly of herring and sprat, has been cited as a significant factor in this ongoing collapse of fish stocks.
Earlier in summer 2023, the European Commission had recommended a complete ban on herring fishing in the central Baltic and the Gulf of Bothnia, based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). However, this recommendation was rejected in October 2023, with the Council opting for a 43% reduction in herring TACs instead.
The Commission stated that its proposal aligns with the Multiannual Plan for the management of cod, herring, and sprat, even as scientists critiqued the ICES recommendations. Experts from Stockholm University labeled the recommendation to increase herring fishing as “irresponsible,” arguing that it disregards the precautionary principle considering the stocks’ poor condition.
ICES has acknowledged uncertainties around stock estimates, attributing some of the inconsistencies to misreporting by fishermen, and reported that this ongoing issue complicates accurate assessments.
The Commission’s new measures aim to address failures in enforcing EU fishing legislation, which include instances of misreporting and potential hidden overfishing. Šefčovič emphasized the need for full implementation of EU laws to ensure sustainable fish stocks for local fishers’ livelihoods.
As the Council of the EU prepares to discuss the Commission’s recommendations at its upcoming meeting on October 21-22, 2024, stakeholders in the fishing industry have voiced concerns. Europêche, a European fishing organization, mentioned that while increasing herring quotas is expected to yield limited gains, the decline in fish populations in the Baltic Sea results from environmental challenges rather than strictly overfishing. They outlined factors such as predation by cormorants, low oxygen levels, prey fish migration, and parasitic influences related to the seal population as contributors to the dwindling herring stocks.
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John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.