Brussels, 30/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Scientists have recommended sharp cuts to cod catches in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea and the countries of the EU should follow these recommendations, the association Oceana stated on Friday 30 May. On Monday, the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) published its scientific opinions on fish stocks in the Baltic sea and on the stocks of so-called deep-sea species (grenadier, ling, emperor fish, etc) in the north-east Atlantic. According to Oceana, ICES recommends considerable reductions in the total allowable catch (TAC) for cod in 2015. “ICES scientists reported a particularly worrying development for eastern Baltic cod”, Oceana writes. Although in recent years cod stocks in the eastern Baltic have shown a strong recovery from an almost depleted state, this year's analysis indicates that it is in very poor condition, and consists mostly of unusually small, slow-growing individuals, the NGO says. “Oceana is deeply concerned about this latest news and urges decision-makers to listen carefully to the scientific recommendations”. ICES states that the package of scientific opinions on the Baltic covers 21 stocks, including herring and salmon. (LC)