The EU fisheries ministers are expected to reach a political agreement in Luxembourg on Monday 17 October on setting the total allowable catches (TACs) for 2023 in the Baltic Sea.
The work at expert level showed that the delegations concerned welcomed the European Commission’s proposal. However, they asked that the fishing possibilities proposed by the Commission for sprat (-20% proposed) and central Baltic herring (the Commission proposes an increase of 14%) be increased, which would be in line with scientific advice.
The delegations also reportedly asked for further discussion on the subject of recreational salmon fishing. Other issues that could be discussed at the EU Council include a possible derogation for small-scale cod fishermen in the Western Baltic, or the need to take account of the geopolitical situation in relation to the war in Ukraine.
The Commission is proposing TAC reductions for herring in the Gulf of Bothnia (-28%), herring in the Gulf of Riga (-4%) and sprat (-20%). It suggests maintaining the by-catch TACs for Western Baltic herring and Western and Eastern Baltic cod (see EUROPE 13005/4).
In addition, the EU Council will hold an exchange of views to provide guidance to the Commission on the EU position to be defended in view of the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held from 14 to 21 November 2022 in Vale do Lobo, Portugal. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)