Brussels, 15/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 15 September, the European Commission adopted its proposals on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2011. In the light of the scientific advice received, it proposes an increase in total allowable catches (TACs) for cod and a sharp reduction in catches of herring and sprat. EU member states will determine 2011 TACs for Baltic Sea fish stocks at the Fisheries Council in October. The countries which fish in the Baltic are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden.
“The return of the Baltic cod is good news. The long-term management plan for cod which we put in place, together with strong measures against misreporting, has helped us to reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels, which has given stocks the time to replenish and allows us to again increase the TACs for both the Eastern and Western stocks,” commented European Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki. She added that “the situation of pelagic stocks - herring and sprat - is unfortunately the opposite”. Most of these stocks have again experienced rather weak incoming year classes. Fishing pressure has continued to be high and has in some cases even increased over the last few years. “We will need to make serious reductions in fishing pressure to ensure sustainable management of these important stocks,” the commissioner said.
Cod. The Commission is proposing an increase of 15 % in the EU TAC for eastern Baltic cod, from 51,267 tonnes in 2010 to 58,957 tonnes in 2011 (with 15,595 tonnes of this going to Poland and 13,721 tonnes to Sweden), and an increase of 6 % in the TAC on western Baltic cod, from 17,700 tonnes to 18,800 tonnes (with Denmark's share being 8,206 tonnes).
Herring. The Western herring stock has declined further and reached a new record low level. For a number of years, TACs for this stock have been set well above scientific advice, the Commission states. It is proposing a reduction of 30 % in the TAC for Western herring, from 22,690 tonnes, to 15,884 tonnes. In the Skagerrak, Baltic Sea herring intermingles with the North Sea herring stock, which is in a better state. It is therefore important to set the TAC in the Skagerrak at a level that will adequately protect the Baltic Sea stock, and not at a level that only reflects the abundance of the North Sea stock. The Commission, therefore, proposes a 28 % reduction in fishing possibilities for the Central Herring stock, to 91 640 tonnes in 2011 (with 30,650 tonnes for Sweden and 22,831 tonnes for Poland, compared with 126,380 tonnes in 2010.
Sprat. The Commission is proposing a 30% reduction for sprat, to 265 969 tonnes (78,087 tonnes for Poland and 50,719 tonnes for Sweden).
Salmon. Given the decreasing survival of Baltic salmon juveniles at sea and the poor status of some of the river stocks, which are subject to mixed stock fishing within the main basin, the TAC in the main basin has been reduced by 15% (to 250,109 individuals, the salmon TAC, unlike the others, not being expressed in tonnes). The Commission proposes that there be no reduction for the Gulf of Finland “as the causes of the problem in this area need to be addressed primarily by national management measures in inland waters”, it says. The issue will be discussed in detail with the member states concerned as part of the new Baltic salmon management plan, which is to be tabled before the end of 2010. (L.C./transl.rt)