18/06/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 18 June, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted, without debate, a regulation bringing technical amendment of the Baltic Sea fish stocks management plan (see EUROPE 12029). Scientific evaluation of the Bothnian Sea herring stock and the Bothnian Bay herring stock conducted in 2017 by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) showed that those two stocks are similar. Consequently, ICES combined the two stocks into one, changed the boundaries of its geographic distribution area and re-estimated the MSY fishing mortality ranges, as well as the relevant conservation reference points. The Commission proposed revision, as a matter of urgency, of the conservation reference points which were no longer in line with the objectives of the plan. (LC)