The European Commission has adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2026. The proposal sets out the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for the ten stocks managed by the EU, the Brussels-based authority announced Tuesday.
The proposal reflects the most recent scientific assessments from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and is in line with the multi-annual management plan for cod, herring and sprat adopted in 2016.
The Commission is proposing a one percent increase in the TAC for salmon in the Gulf of Finland, while maintaining quotas for herring and sprat in the central Baltic Sea. Conversely, it proposes reductions for several stocks: Bothnian herring (-62 percent), herring in the Gulf of Riga (-17 percent), flounder (-3 percent), salmon in the main basin (-27 percent) and unavoidable bycatch of cod in the western Baltic (-84 percent), cod in the eastern Baltic (-63 percent) and herring in the western Baltic (-50 percent).
The Baltic Sea faces critical ecological challenges including biodiversity loss, eutrophication and overfishing, the Commission notes. The proposal reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to achieving objectives for Maximum Sustainable Yield, balancing ecological resilience with the livelihoods of Baltic fishermen.
To support this transition, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and the European Social Fund Plus will provide support through programmes focused on temporary cessation of fishing activities and skills development.
“I am concerned about the poor state of Baltic fish stocks and the impact this has on local fishermen” stated Costas Kadis, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans. He warned that too many fish stocks are on the verge of collapse and the ecosystem is deteriorating. “We must fully implement EU legislation and take action at all levels and in all policy areas, or this situation will continue in the coming years”. Kadis emphasized the need to rebuild fish stocks and strengthen the Baltic Sea ecosystem, stating that “this must be a collective effort”.