The EU fisheries ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 15 October reached a unanimous political agreement early evening on total allowable catches (TAC) and quotas in Baltic waters for 2019.
The increase amounts to 70% (total of 9,515 tonnes) for the 2019 western Baltic cod quota, which causes an outcry from NGOs fighting to protect the environment.
The European Commission suggested a 31% increase but Germany and Denmark obtained a more significant rise. The Commission’s proposal was taken on board for eastern cod stocks (-15%). Recreational fishing will be limited for cod catches in the western Baltic and there will be a period of closure from 1 to 31 July 2019 in Baltic waters (with derogations for small coastal fisheries in the eastern Baltic).
Battle over herring. The countries concerned, including Germany and Denmark, obtained less severe restrictions for western herring stock: a fall of 48% of TAC, to 9001 tonnes (the Commission was proposing a 63% decrease). The Council lowered the TAC 2019 for herring in the central part of the Baltic by 26% (to 170,360 tonnes), and an increase of 7% was confirmed for Bothnian herring.
Salmon. For next year, the Council maintained main basin catches of salmon (91,132 fish) and the catch reduction for salmon caught in the Gulf of Finland is 3%.
The Council decided to increase catches in 2019 for plaice (+43%) and sprat (+3%).
Thanks to this agreement, 7 out of 8 stocks for which complete scientific advice was available will be fished in line with the principle of maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Thus, 98% of 2019 Baltic fish landings in volume will be sustainably fished, Karmenu Vella, Fisheries Commissioner, was pleased to note.
The NGO Oceana denounced the irresponsibility on the part of politicians. She recommended that the rise in prices should not exceed 20% for cod in the western Baltic and that herring fishing should be closed in the western Baltic. The NGO Our Fish considers that such decisions are not in line with the rules of common fisheries policy (CFP) for five Baltic stocks (including cod, herring and salmon).
Within the framework of discussions on fishing possibilities in the Baltic Sea, the Council also: - introduced inter-area flexibility for salmon from subdivisions 22-31 (main basin) to 32 (Gulf of Finland) for those member states requesting it, together with measures to address misreporting of catches; - fixed the EU quota for Norway pout for the next fishing season running from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2019 at 50,000 tonnes, thereby guaranteeing continuity in the fisheries of this short-lived species; - and agreed on an in-year amendment to the TAC for anchovy and the modification of the TAC period that will now last until 30 June 2019. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)