The European Commission believes that the multi-annual management plan for cod, herring and sprat stocks in the Baltic Sea “has been beneficial”, in a report published by its services on Tuesday 15 September.
“The mixed development of the fish stocks and of the fisheries is not so much due to the implementation of the MAP than to causes that have been in place long before the MAP entered into effect, i.e. environmental factors and in particular unsustainable fishing, which over time have created real socio-economic harm with severe cost to the fishermen and women that depend on fisheries for their livelihood”, the report states.
The Commission points out that, for various reasons, fishermen, as well as NGOs, are very critical of the effectiveness of this plan.
Furthermore, the Commission believes that the Member States should have made greater use of “regionalisation” by developing more joint proposals on issues influencing the Baltic Sea. “Key issues”, such as a more sustainable management for eastern Baltic cod or taking real measures to protect the critically endangered harbour porpoises have not been addressed collectively, criticises the Commission.
EU ministers will set the 2021 fishing possibilities for the Baltic Sea at the EU Council meeting on 19-20 October (see EUROPE 12548/6). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)