The European Commission on Monday proposed sharply restricting fishing in the western Baltic Sea to protect herring stocks that remain well below sustainable levels. The proposal, announced by the Commission, seeks to address the continued decline of herring populations in the region.
EU Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "The Baltic Sea ecosystem is in a very bad state, and we need to take action across all areas to protect it."
Currently, targeted fishing for herring is largely banned in the western Baltic Sea, but an exception exists for fishermen who catch herring passively close to the coast, such as those using gill nets. Brussels aims to eliminate this exception for 2027, a move that would affect the small-scale coastal fishing sector.
The Commission also proposed reducing the permitted herring bycatch from 788 tons in 2026 to 437 tons in 2027. Additionally, allocations for unavoidable cod bycatch in the western and eastern Baltic Sea would decrease significantly, by 88% to 31 tons and by 51% to 211 tons respectively. According to the Commission, bycatch can threaten endangered species such as Baltic cod.
Notably, a similar proposal last year failed to receive the required backing from EU member countries, highlighting the challenges in achieving consensus on fishing restrictions.
In contrast, fishing opportunities for species with sustainable stock sizes, including herring in the central Baltic Sea and sprat, would increase under the proposal.
The Commission draws up proposals each year on how much fish may be caught in EU waters based on scientific advice. Final decisions are made by EU member states' fisheries ministers, who then divide the total catch into national quotas.