The EU Commission has adopted its proposal for 2025 fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea, responding to a "scientific assessment that indicates several fisheries are in a dire situation."

It has proposed doubling the landings of central Baltic herring (+108%) and lifting catches of herring in the Gulf of Riga (+10%).

But fishing for salmon in the main basin is to be cut by 36%, and in the Gulf of Finland 20%, while sprat landings are to fall 42%; see the quotas in metric tons below.

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.

"Since the [cod] 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 Commission noted.

"The situation is similar for western Baltic cod. The Commission therefore proposes to adjust the by-catch TAC [total allowable catch] to actual needs, and to keep all the accompanying measures."

The stock size of western Baltic herring (the quota for which is put at just 394t) also remains significantly below minimum levels, it said. "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, on the other hand, has increased above the minimum level since last year. "ICES forecasts a very positive stock development due to high estimated recruitment but emphasizes 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.

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 Oct. 21-22, 2024.