The Commission proposes to increase fishing opportunities for central Baltic herring (+108%) and herring in the Gulf of Riga (+10%). It proposes to decrease fishing of salmon in the main basin (-36%) and in the Gulf of Finland (-20%), as well as of sprat (-42%). Catches of plaice would remain unchanged. The Commission proposes to decrease the allocations for unavoidable by-catches of western Baltic cod (-73%), eastern Baltic cod (-68%) and western Baltic herring (-50%).
The proposed TACs are based on the best available scientific advice from the International Council on the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and follow the Baltic Sea multiannual management plan adopted in 2016 by the European Parliament and the Council.
Cod
For eastern Baltic cod, the Commission intends to keep a catch limit for unavoidable by-catches and all the accompanying measures in place already for several years. However, since the stock continues to be in a bad condition, the by-catch limit should be adjusted to the actual needs. Despite the measures taken since 2019, when scientists first warned about the poor status of cod, the situation has not improved. The situation is similar for western Baltic cod. The Commission therefore proposes to adjust the by-catch TAC to actual needs, and to keep all the accompanying measures.
Herring
The stock size of western Baltic herring remains significantly below minimum levels. The Commission proposes removing the exemption for small-scale coastal fisheries and adjusting the TAC to unavoidable by-catches only. The stock size of central Baltic herring has increased above the minimum level since last year. ICES forecasts a very positive stock development due to high estimated recruitment but emphasises that the forecast is more uncertain than usual. The Commission therefore proposes a cautious approach and will not propose to increase the TAC up to the maximum level included in the ICES advice. Herring in the Gulf of Riga is healthy, and the Commission proposes to set the catch limits according to the maximum recommended by ICES.
Plaice
While scientific advice would allow for a considerable increase, the Commission remains cautious, mainly to protect cod – which is an unavoidable by-catch when fishing for plaice. New measures to reduce cod by-catches through alternative fishing gear are expected to enter into force this year.
Sprat
The size of the sprat stock has decreased significantly due to persistently low reproduction rates. Scientists warn that the stock size could fall below healthy levels if reproduction is lower than expected. Therefore, scientific advice for sprat recommends a substantial reduction in catches. The Commission proposes to set the TAC at a level that minimises the risk of the stock size decreasing below the minimum level.
Salmon
The status of the different river salmon populations in the Baltic main basin varies considerably, with some remaining weak and others healthy. To achieve healthy levels, ICES advised three years ago the closure of all salmon fisheries in the main basin. At the same time, ICES assessed that it would be possible to maintain certain fisheries during the summer in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Åland Sea. ICES maintained the principle of its advice for 2025 but decreased the related catch level because reproduction rates have decreased in recent years. The Commission therefore proposes adjusting the fishing opportunities and the accompanying rules accordingly, notably by banning recreational fishing for reared salmon, which unavoidably also causes the death of wild salmon.
Next steps
Based on these proposals, EU countries will take a final decision to determine the maximum quantities of the most important commercial fish species that can be caught in the Baltic Sea basin. The Council will examine the Commission’s proposal in view of adopting it during its meeting on 21-22 October 2024.
Source: European Commission
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